Hyderabad: Although the authorities have been repeatedly assuring citizens "there is no shortage of petrol and diesel in the state", panic buying continued across the city on Tuesday -- for the second consecutive day -- leaving motorists and bikers fuming in long queues under the scorching sun.
On Tuesday, chaotic scenes were witnessed at several fuel stations as anxious citizens rushed to fill their vehicle tanks, fearing an impending shortage. Apparently, official claims of "adequate supply" fell on deaf ears, more so because many filling stations started displaying 'No stock' boards, heightening public anxiety and confusion.
From early morning, long queues of bikes, cars, auto-rickshaws, and commercial vehicles stretched across key areas including, Khairtabad, Lakdikapul, Begumpet, Secunderabad, Nampally, Abids, Mehdipatnam, Koti, Malakpet, Chaderghat, Ameerpet, Attapur, Kukatpally, Erragadda, LB Nagar, Madhapur, and Manikonda areas. The heavy rush at fuel stations also led to traffic congestion on several arterial roads, compounding commuters' woes.
Curiously, the refrain of the authorities of the Civil Supplies Department, petroleum companies, and the police has been that "there is no shortage of petrol or diesel anywhere in the state",
Amid continued panic buying of fuel, Mohiuddin Khan, a customer at Chanchalguda Telangana Prisons pump, said that many stations have been displaying signs of 'no stock' since Sunday night. "Seeing this situation, I decided to fill my vehicle's tank, waiting in a long line, and after nearly 30 bikes, it was finally my turn and I filled the fuel tank to full capacity, in view of rumours," he added.
Many citizens expressed their frustration at the situation, questioning the glaring mismatch between official assurances and ground reality. "We have been standing in queue for more than an hour in this heat, and still the staffers are saying petrol is not available. If there is no shortage, why are they turning us away?" asked a commuter at a fuel station in Secunderabad.