Petrol Shortage in Hyderabad Causes Panic Buying
The recent petrol shortage in Hyderabad has caused significant concern among residents, leading to long queues at petrol pumps as panic buying ensued. Despite government assurances that there is no fuel shortage in Telangana, many petrol stations have run out of stock, prompting some to ration fuel sales to just 150–200 litres for two-wheelers.
Panic buying was triggered by rumors circulating on social media about a potential fuel shortage. A local resident, A Narendra, shared, “I came here after seeing posts about a fuel shortage on social media,” highlighting the impact of misinformation on community behavior.
As a result of the panic, several petrol pumps displayed ‘no stock’ signs, with reports indicating that daily petrol sales per pump typically average between 10,000 to 12,000 litres. However, on days of panic buying, some pumps sold as much as 13,000 litres by 6 PM.
The Telangana Civil Supplies department has stated that the fuel supply mechanism is functioning normally, and daily consumption in the state is estimated at 35 lakh litres of petrol. However, oil companies did not supply fuel over the weekend due to holidays, which may have exacerbated the situation.
With around 3,600 petrol pumps across Telangana and approximately 900-1000 in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region, the sudden surge in demand 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 fuel supply remains stable. Yet, residents like Sai Kumar expressed frustration, stating, “Hundreds of vehicles are here for filling. I am here from almost 25 minutes.”
Marri Amarender Reddy, president of the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association, criticized the oil companies for imposing sudden rules and restrictions that directly affect common citizens during such a crisis.
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 community continues to navigate this challenging situation, hoping for clarity and stability in fuel availability.
