The petrol shortage in Hyderabad has triggered widespread panic buying, leading to long queues at petrol pumps across the city. Despite the Telangana government’s assurances that there is no fuel shortage, the situation has escalated, with several petrol stations running out of fuel and displaying ‘no stock’ signs.
This surge in demand appears to have been fueled by rumors circulating on social media, prompting residents like A Narendra to rush to petrol stations. “I came here after seeing posts about a fuel shortage on social media,” he remarked, highlighting the role of misinformation in exacerbating the situation.
As panic buying intensified, some petrol stations began rationing fuel sales, limiting purchases to between 150 and 200 litres for two-wheelers. This measure was implemented as daily petrol consumption in Telangana is estimated at 35 lakh litres, with individual pumps typically selling around 10,000 to 12,000 litres daily. On a day of panic buying, one pump reportedly sold 13,000 litres by 6 PM.
The Civil Supplies Department has stated that the fuel supply mechanism is functioning normally, and officials urge the public not to engage in panic buying. Stephan Reveendra, IPS, Commissioner of the Civil Supplies Department, emphasized, “I urge the public not to engage in panic buying,” as the situation remains under control.
However, the oil companies did not supply fuel over the weekend due to holidays, which contributed to the temporary stock issues reported at petrol stations in areas like Bahadurpura and Mir Alam. With 3,600 petrol pumps across Telangana and about 900 to 1,000 in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region, the infrastructure is in place to meet demand, yet the current panic has disrupted normal operations.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the situation. Sai Kumar, waiting in line for over 25 minutes, noted, “Hundreds of vehicles are here for filling.” Marri Amarender Reddy, president of the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association, criticized the sudden restrictions imposed by oil companies, stating, “When the situation is not right, the oil companies should not impose sudden rules and restrictions that directly affect the common citizens.”
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. The government continues to monitor the situation closely, but the impact of social media on consumer behavior raises questions about future fuel supply stability.
