Hyderabad petrol pump panic: Long queues seen across fuel stations for second day

Hyderabad witnessed long queues at petrol pumps for the second consecutive day as motorists rushed to refuel amid fears of a fuel shortage despite repeated assurances from the government and oil companies.

Police personnel were deployed at multiple petrol bunks across Hyderabad, with barricades set up to manage crowds as hundreds of motorists lined up to fill their vehicles.

The rush was largely triggered by ‘no stock’ boards at several petrol pumps and videos of long queues circulating on social media, which created fear among commuters that fuel would soon run out.

At several locations in Hyderabad, people were seen carrying cans and bottles to store petrol for generators and other uses, adding further pressure on fuel availability at pumps.

Many office-goers said they got stuck in long queues while trying to refuel during lunch breaks, with some spending more than an hour waiting at fuel stations across the city.

Small business owners, including milk suppliers and delivery workers, said the rush at petrol pumps disrupted their daily work as they struggled to refuel vehicles on time.

Commuters reported longer waiting times and higher fares on ride-hailing platforms as drivers either cancelled trips or avoided taking rides due to uncertainty over fuel availability.

Petrol pump dealers said the issue was linked to a credit stand-off with oil companies such as Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum, which affected fuel supply at several outlets.

Oil companies maintained that there is no shortage of fuel and said the situation was triggered mainly by panic buying. Officials said fuel supply is expected to stabilise soon across Hyderabad.