The recent petrol shortage in Hyderabad has sparked significant concern among residents, leading to long queues at fuel stations across the city. Despite government assurances that there is no fuel shortage in Telangana, panic buying has caused several petrol pumps to run out of stock, displaying ‘no stock’ signs.
The situation escalated over the weekend when oil companies did not supply fuel due to holidays, exacerbating the issue. Daily petrol consumption in Telangana is estimated at 35 lakh litres, and with panic buying in full swing, some petrol stations began rationing sales to just 150-200 litres for two-wheelers.
According to reports, there are around 900-1000 petrol pumps in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region and approximately 3600 across Telangana. On a typical day, each pump sells about 10,000-12,000 litres of petrol. However, on days of panic buying, one pump reportedly sold 13,000 litres by 6 PM.
Residents have expressed frustration over the situation. A local citizen, Sai Kumar, noted, “Hundreds of vehicles are here for filling. I am here from almost 25 minutes,” highlighting the delays caused by the rush. Another individual, A Narendra, shared, “I came here after seeing posts about a fuel shortage on social media,” indicating the role of misinformation in driving the panic.
Stephan Reveendra, the Commissioner of the Civil Supplies Department, urged the public to refrain from panic buying, stating, “I urge the public not to engage in panic buying.” Meanwhile, Marri Amarender Reddy, president of the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association, criticized the sudden restrictions imposed by oil companies, saying, “When the situation is not right, the oil companies should not impose sudden rules and restrictions that directly affect the common citizens.”
Temporary stock issues have been reported in areas like Bahadurpura and Mir Alam, but the Civil Supplies department maintains that the fuel supply mechanism is functioning normally. However, the exact reason for the sudden surge in demand remains unclear.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding when normal fuel supply will resume, leaving residents anxious about the ongoing situation. As the government continues to monitor the situation, further developments are expected in the coming days.
