South Asia's Energy Crisis: Now With Fewer Universities and More Cremation Wood
KEY POINTS
- •In early March 2026, Bangladesh closed both public and private universities to conserve power amid the Iran war-induced energy crisis.
- •South Korea imposed gas price caps for the first time in nearly 30 years, while Thailand encouraged state agencies to work from home.
- •India faced LPG shortages triggering hoarding and hotel closures, with Pune crematoriums temporarily banning gas-based cremations.
Brace yourselves: thanks to Iran's Strait of Hormuz theater shutting down 20% of global oil exports, South Asia's gone full apocalypse mode by mid-March 2026. Bangladesh said 'Bye, Felicia!' to universities early, while South Korea capped gas prices for the first time in 30 years — because nothing says energy crisis like retro price controls. Thailand told offices to WFH to 'save fuel' (finally, a reason to keep those pajama meetings). The Philippines moonwalking into a four-day workweek, and Pakistan playing shutdown bingo with schools, offices, and gas prices. India is hoarding LPG cylinders like it's Pokémon cards — whole hotels in Mumbai boarded up, crematoriums in Pune switching to wood or electricity, turning funerals into BYOB events. Japan uncorked its largest oil reserve ever, capping prices like a boss. Meanwhile, China’s chilling with coal and stockpiles, laughing behind those Great Wall shadows. As Philippines President Marcos Jr. lamented, 'We are victims of a war not of our choosing,' but honestly, thanks to global trade routes and geopolitics, everyone's main victim is their electricity bill.
Share the Story
(1 of 3)When your gas prices spike so hard that universities shut down, cremations switch to wood, and four-day workweeks become gov-mandated naps. Welcome to 2026, where the Iran war plays DJ with everyone’s fuel playlist.
South Asia’s energy crisis has governments enforcing four-day workweeks and wood-fueled cremations—finally giving 'business casual' a pyro edge.
Gas prices hit South Asia like a bad Tinder date: unexpected, overpriced, and shutting down your social life, including universities and funerals.
Source: Axios | Published: 3/17/2026 | Author: Emily Peck
More Articles in World News
Sydney Sweeney's $1M Flop, Trump-Approved Jeans & Bathwater Soap Fiasco
Digital Nomad Trapped in Lisbon FOMO, Ends Up BFF Ghosted
Oscars Fashion: From 1930 Pearls to 2026 Two-Tone Chanel Confusion
Israel Silently Deletes Iran’s Security Chief Like an Email Chain
Russia Scores $10 Billion Mid-East Oil Win While Sanctions Take Coffee Break
Trump Asks NATO to Babysit Strait of Hormuz, Allies Pass with Side Eye
US Envoy and Iranian FM Text War Updates Like Exes Ignoring Each Other
North Korea Plans Dynasty 2.0: Introducing Kim Ju Ae, CEO of Future
