25.03.2026 13:40
The Indian government announced that there is sufficient supply of petrol, diesel, and LPG across the country, and that refineries are operating at full capacity. Officials emphasized that the congestion at petrol stations is due to panic buying stemming from false rumors spread on social media, urging citizens not to "panic."
In many cities of India, panic buying at petrol stations has begun due to misinformation spreading on social media regarding the effects of the war in West Asia. While long vehicle queues, "out of stock" signs, and temporary shortages have been reported in some areas due to increased demand, officials emphasized that there is no fuel shortage nationwide.
Officials stated that the current congestion is not due to a real supply crisis, but rather a demand increase driven entirely by fear.
PANIC OF 'OUT OF STOCK' IN HYDERABAD
In Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state, long queues formed at petrol stations in areas such as Secunderabad, Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, and Attapur. It was reported that the "out of stock" warnings seen at some stations were not due to a real shortage, but rather temporary supply and payment issues between dealers and companies.
Due to the increased congestion, traffic jams were experienced in areas like SR Nagar and Ameerpet, while police teams tried to calm citizens with announcements. The Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association announced that the panic buying had increased sales to 2.5-3 times the normal level, stating that the rumors do not reflect the truth.
DEMAND EXPLODED IN GUJARAT
In Gujarat state, rumors led to an extraordinary increase in fuel demand. In cities like Ahmedabad and Mehsana, the demand for petrol stations increased by 8-10 times, and it was reported that fuel sufficient for two days ran out within hours. Officials stated that there are sufficient stocks in the state and that citizens should not panic.
CHAOS IN MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHER STATES
Similar scenes were witnessed in cities like Indore, Ujjain, and Ratlam. In Ujjain, despite sufficient fuel in the warehouses, some stations temporarily ran out of fuel due to the sudden increase in demand. A similar wave of panic was also experienced in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan during the night. In Balaghat, citizens were seen trying to stockpile fuel in cans, while officials warned against misinformation spreading on social media.
ISSUE IN THE CITY IS LIMITED TO LPG ONLY
In Solapur city of Maharashtra, the issue was limited only to LPG autogas. Due to only one filling station being operational, queues extended up to 1-1.5 kilometers. The increase of about 35 rupees in autogas prices negatively affected drivers' incomes.
CLEAR MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT: NO SHORTAGE
The Indian government announced that the supply of petrol, diesel, and LPG is sufficient nationwide and that refineries are operating at high capacity. Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that panic buying has created temporary congestion, but there is no issue in the supply chain. They also announced that strict measures have been taken against those spreading rumors, and hundreds of investigations have been opened during inspections.
PANIC BUYING CRISIS DEEPENS
Experts point out that the biggest risk in the current situation is panic buying. Unnecessary stockpiling can lead to rapid depletion of stations and cause real needs to be neglected. Officials called on citizens, saying, "Fuel needs will always be met, do not panic."