Raipur: State capital Raipur witnessed long queues at several petrol pumps on Wednesday after rumours of a possible fuel shortage triggered panic buying among residents. Despite the sudden rush, officials and fuel station operators clarified that the supply of petrol and diesel in the city remains completely normal.
A manager at a petrol pump in the Amanaka area said there was no disruption in fuel availability and blamed the crowding on misleading rumours. “The fuel supply is stable. People started rushing to pumps due to panic created by false information regarding shortage,” he said.
The situation appeared comparatively serious in Bilaspur, where nearly 13 petrol pumps in the city and surrounding areas reportedly went dry for some time. Outlets operated by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) were among the most affected. Some pumps of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) also faced temporary shortages, although refilling was being carried out quickly. Pumps operated by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) also witnessed unusually heavy demand from consumers.
Petrol pump operators said the temporary disruption was mainly caused by delays in the arrival of fuel tankers at several outlets on Wednesday. They clarified that payments to oil companies had already been completed and fresh tankers had been dispatched from fuel depots. According to them, the situation is expected to normalize soon.
Meanwhile, districts such as Durg and Raigarh reported largely unaffected fuel availability. Recently, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai appealed to citizens to use fuel wisely amid global energy concerns. The state administration is continuously monitoring the fuel supply chain to prevent hoarding and ensure uninterrupted distribution across Chhattisgarh.
