Hyderabad is experiencing a petrol shortage, prompting panic buying and long queues at petrol stations, despite government claims of no fuel scarcity.
The petrol shortage in Hyderabad has resulted in significant panic buying, leading to long queues at petrol pumps across the city. Despite government assurances that there is no fuel shortage in Telangana, many petrol stations have run out of fuel, displaying ‘no stock’ signs.
Several petrol stations have resorted to rationing fuel sales, limiting purchases to between 150–200 litres for two-wheelers. This situation has been exacerbated by rumors circulating on social media, prompting residents to rush to petrol stations.
Daily petrol consumption in Telangana is estimated at 35 lakh litres, while diesel consumption stands at 45 lakh litres. With approximately 3,600 petrol pumps across the state and 900-1000 in the GHMC region, the sudden surge in demand has strained supply.
On a typical day, a petrol pump sells around 10,000-12,000 litres of petrol. However, on days of panic buying, some pumps reported selling up to 13,000 litres by 6 PM.
The Civil Supplies department has stated that the fuel supply mechanism is functioning normally, and oil companies did not supply fuel over the weekend due to holidays. This has led to temporary stock issues, particularly in areas like Bahadurpura and Mir Alam.
Commissioner of the Civil Supplies Department, Stephan Reveendra, urged the public not to engage in panic buying, emphasizing that the situation is under control. However, residents like A Narendra expressed concern, stating they were influenced by social media posts about a fuel shortage.
Local resident Sai Kumar shared his frustration, noting that he had been waiting for almost 25 minutes to fill his vehicle amidst the chaos. Marri Amarender Reddy, president of the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association, criticized the sudden rules imposed by oil companies that adversely affect citizens during such times.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact reason for the sudden surge in demand, and the timeline for when normal fuel supply will resume is uncertain. As the situation develops, residents are advised to remain calm and avoid panic buying.
