Chandigarh: Fuel panic buying was reported across parts of Punjab, with several petrol pumps running dry and restrictions imposed on the sale of fuel in drums and bottles amid rumours of shortage and a possible lockdown.
Long queues were seen at fuel stations across the Majha and Doaba regions, including Jalandhar, Amritsar, Moga and Patiala, as people rushed to stock petrol and diesel. Farmers were also seen carrying drums to pumps ahead of the wheat harvesting season starting April 1, when diesel demand typically rises.
Petrol pump dealers said the sudden surge in demand was triggered by fears of supply disruption due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, coupled with misinformation about a possible lockdown and expected price hikes.
In response, oil companies instructed pump operators to restrict the sale of loose fuel to prevent hoarding. Several pumps in rural areas, especially in Sangrur and Hoshiarpur, reportedly ran dry due to the sudden spike in consumption.
According to industry estimates, Punjab has around 4,000 fuel stations and an average monthly consumption of nearly 3.5 million kilolitres, which fluctuates during peak agricultural seasons.
However, the situation began to stabilise after the Centre stepped in. Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed rumours of a lockdown and assured that there was no shortage of fuel in the country.
The Centre also reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel, easing pressure on oil companies and lowering the likelihood of price hikes — a move reported earlier.
Following the clarification, queues at fuel stations started to thin out, particularly in the Malwa region, where the situation returned to near normal on Friday. Many pumps in Bathinda and Mansa displayed notices prohibiting fuel sale in containers to curb hoarding.
Petrol Pump Dealers Association representatives said the panic was largely driven by misinformation and urged the public to avoid unnecessary stockpiling, assuring that fuel supply remains stable.
