Panic buying dries up fuel stations in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and marathwada supplies to normalise in next 24 hours

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Several fuel stations across Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city ran dry on Tuesday as panic buying triggered long queues, with motorists rushing to refill tanks amid rumours that India had fuel stock for only a few days due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.Social media platforms were flooded with claims that the country's fuel reserves were running critically low, prompting residents to queue up at petrol pumps since early morning on Tuesday. By afternoon, several outlets either exhausted their petrol and diesel stocks or rationed supply to manage the rush. On Wednesday, several fuel stations put up boards reading ‘No Stock'.The situation was no different in parts of the Marathwada region. The district administrations made public appeals, asking people not to get into a panic-buying frenzy.At other fuel stations where fuel was available, serpentine queues of two-wheelers, cars and commercial vehicles spilled onto main roads, leading to traffic snarls. Pump operators said the sudden surge in demand over a few hours disrupted the normal supply cycle, clubbed with a public holiday due to which fuel depots did not operate, resulting in temporary shortages.Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-based Aurangabad Petrol Pump Dealers' Association president Aqeel Abbas urged residents not to fall prey to rumours, asserting that there was no cause for alarm. "There is adequate fuel stock in the country. The current situation has arisen purely because of panic buying. We appeal to people to remain calm and avoid unnecessary refuelling," Abbas said.He added that fresh orders had been placed and supply tankers were on their way. "Fuel stations that ran dry will start functioning normally by Thursday morning once replenishment is completed," he said.Dealers explained that fuel supply operates on a scheduled replenishment system based on routine demand patterns. The unexpected spike in off-take within a short span upset these calculations, causing temporary outages at some outlets.There was no official advisory from oil marketing companies indicating any disruption in fuel imports or domestic refining. Industry sources maintained that India maintains adequate buffer stock and diversified sourcing arrangements to meet demand requirements.Meanwhile, traffic police personnel were deployed near some of the crowded pumps to regulate vehicular movement and prevent law and order issues. Authorities appealed to residents to rely only on verified information and refrain from forwarding unsubstantiated messages on social media.By late evening on Wednesday, a few pumps began receiving limited supplies, while others awaited tanker deliveries expected overnight. Dealers reiterated that normalcy would be restored across the city by Thursday.