The LPG crisis in Bengaluru has taken a turn for the worse as thousands of auto-rickshaw drivers spent another day in long queues, often stretching over a kilometre, only to be met with "no stock" boards or rationed fuel.

The situation turned volatile at several points on Saturday, forcing the jurisdictional police to deploy Hoysala patrolling units at fuel stations in Seshadripuram and Domlur to prevent skirmishes between frustrated drivers and bunk staff.

Chaos at the pumps

At the Seshadripuram LPG station, the queue spilled onto the main road as early as 4 am. Despite the long wait, drivers were informed that they could only refill for a maximum of Rs 500 - which buys just about 5 kg of auto LPG with a 200 km mileage - to ensure the limited stock reached more vehicles.

"I have been waiting for three hours. They say they won't do a full tank. How am I supposed to run a full day's shift with Rs 500 worth of gas?" asked Manjunath, an auto driver. "Yesterday, I managed only four liters. My daily earnings have dropped from Rs 1,500 to barely Rs 700, and half of that goes back into the tank."

Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajajinagar and Yeshwanthpur. At the Indian Oil outlet nearby, the queue went through the inner lanes, making a U-turn at the dead end before reaching the dispensing unit.

Police deployed personnel to maintain order following instances of heated arguments and physical altercations over the last two days. "The frustration is obvious, and our priority is to prevent any untoward incidents," a senior police officer said.

Many drivers reported sleeping in their vehicles overnight to secure a spot in the morning queue.

"I haven't been home in three days. If I leave the queue, I lose my spot. If I don't get gas, I can't pay my son's college fees or the house rent," said another driver. Some drivers even lamented that begging in front of temples seemed like a more viable option than struggling for fuel that doesn't exist.