Social media posts trigger panic buying at JSR fuel stations

JAMSHEDPUR: Motorists in Steel City are queueing up at their nearest fuel stations for refills ever since the war in West Asia broke out late last month. However, most of this surge in customers is due to misguiding social media posts and fake news, pump operators here claimed.

Arun Yadav, the president of Kolhan Petrol Dealers' Association, said, "The war in West Asia broke out on Feb 28, and many motorists after seeing various social media posts, which claim that there will be steep hike in fuel prices due to shortage in supply, are unnecessarily queueing outside petrol outlets to buy extra fuel." Yadav further said, "Most of them fear that either they have to shell out extra money to buy fuel or face shortage. It is very easy and quick to spread rumours through social media as every third person is now having a smart phone along with the internet."

Suresh, who owns two fuel stations, said, "Motorists who fall into the trap of such rumours often arrive at odd hours rush to pumps to get their vehicles tank filled up. This leads to a lot of commotion too as most of them are panic stricken. The panic buying is causing fuel to get exhausted faster than usual at the pumps. This, in turn is triggering more speculations among buyers when they see a no stock board put up outside the pump."

Suresh said petrol and diesel supplies were normal and there was no crisis at the fuel stations. "There is no need for hoarding," he said.

Ipsita Dutta, a faculty member at a govt college, said, "People should refrain from circulating rumours and fake news in social media. Many innocent people fall in the trap and get harassed."

Egg vendor Rinku Mahato said, "On Sunday night, I saw a post in a social media platform that our country's oil stocks are getting over so the prices of petrol and diesel will shoot up like LPG. After seeing this I rushed to a fuel outlet to fill up the tank of my pick up van as fuel shortage will have a negative impact on my business." Like Rinku, autorickshaw driver Mithun also rushed to a nearest fuel station after seeing a social media post. " I have filled up a 20 litre jerry can so that I face no crunch in the coming days," he said.