HYDERABAD :

 

CHAOS prevailed at petrol bunks across Hyderabad on Wednesday as rumours of fuel shortage due to the ongoing war in West Asia triggered panic buying by customers. Long queues of motorists were seen at almost all retail outlets in the twin cities of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and the outskirts, even as authorities assured people that adequate stocks are available. Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks, buses, vans and cars, were seen at major filling stations, leading to traffic jams. Motorists were seen waiting in queues for several hours to fill petrol and diesel. Chaotic scenes were witnessed at fuel stations in the busy areas of Ameerpet, Khairatabad, Lakdi Ka Pul, Begumpet, Secunderabad, Nampally, Abids, Mehdipatnam, Koti, Attapur, Kukatpally, Erragadda, LB Nagar and Vanasthalipuram. Panic buying of petrol/diesel in Kashmir triggers chaos: PANIC gripped people across the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday as motorists, trucks and owners of other conveyances mobbed petrol/diesel pumps trying to buy fuel. This is happening despite announcements made by the Indian Oil Corporation that there is no shortage of petroleum products in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

People started mobbing refilling stations in Kashmir as news spread from one area to another, saying that acute energy crisis was gripping the Valley. Gujarat Govt assures adequate fuel supply: THE Gujarat Government on Wednesday said there is no shortage of fuel in the State despite the ongoing crisis in West Asia, and warned of strict action against hoarding and attempts to create artificial scarcity. The recent long queues at fuel stations were the fallout of panic buying triggered by rumours rather than any actual shortage, said Energy and Petrochemicals Minister Rushikesh Patel. in the legislative assembly, pushing for PNG (piped natural gas) adoption. Patel made the statement in the House after BJP members Mahesh Kaswala, Chaitanya Desai and Harshad Patel raised the issue amid concerns over supply of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. “There is no problem anywhere in the entire State regarding petrol and diesel. Adequate steps have been taken to ensure continuous supply to petrol pumps,” he said, and urged the public not to believe in rumours. During the recent “panic” triggered by rumours, fuel pumps sold nearly four to five times their normal daily volumes, which itself demonstrated the presence of sufficient buffer stock, he said.