The petrol shortage in Hyderabad has ignited widespread panic buying, leading to long queues at petrol stations and even fuel rationing, despite government assurances that there is no fuel shortage in Telangana. The situation escalated over the weekend, with many residents flocking to petrol pumps after rumors of a fuel crisis circulated on social media.
As a result of this panic buying, several petrol stations across the city ran out of fuel, displaying ‘no stock’ signs. Reports indicate that some stations began rationing fuel sales, limiting purchases to just 150–200 litres for two-wheelers. This has left many motorists frustrated, with some waiting for over 25 minutes to fill their tanks.
According to the Civil Supplies Department, the daily consumption of petrol in Telangana is estimated at 35 lakh litres, while diesel consumption stands at 45 lakh litres. There are approximately 3,600 petrol pumps across the state, with around 900-1,000 located in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region. Normally, each pump sells between 10,000-12,000 litres of petrol daily.
On a day marked by panic buying, one petrol pump reported selling 13,000 litres by 6 PM, highlighting the surge in demand. “I came here after seeing posts about a fuel shortage on social media,” said a local resident, A Narendra, reflecting the influence of misinformation.
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.” Despite these reassurances, the situation has led to significant disruptions, with temporary stock issues reported in areas like Bahadurpura and Mir Alam.
Oil companies did not supply fuel over the weekend due to holidays, exacerbating the situation. Marri Amarender Reddy, president of the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association, criticized the oil companies for imposing sudden restrictions that affect ordinary citizens during such a critical time.
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 Civil Supplies department maintains that the fuel supply mechanism is functioning normally, yet the public’s anxiety continues to fuel the chaos at petrol stations.
