The ongoing petrol shortage in Hyderabad has created a wave of panic among residents, resulting in long queues at petrol stations across the city. Despite government assurances that there is no fuel shortage in Telangana, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Panic buying was triggered by rumors circulating on social media, leading many to rush to petrol pumps in search of fuel. This sudden surge in demand has caused several petrol stations to run out of fuel, displaying ‘no stock’ signs and prompting some to ration fuel sales to just 150–200 litres for two-wheelers.
According to the Civil Supplies Department, daily petrol consumption in Telangana is estimated at 35 lakh litres. However, the situation worsened over the weekend when oil companies did not supply fuel due to holidays, exacerbating the panic among consumers. “I came here after seeing posts about a fuel shortage on social media,” shared a local resident, A Narendra, who was caught in the chaos.
With approximately 3,600 petrol pumps across Telangana and around 900-1000 in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region, the demand for petrol has surged beyond normal levels. Typically, each pump sells about 10,000-12,000 litres of petrol daily, but on panic buying days, some have reported sales of up to 13,000 litres by 6 PM.
As the situation unfolded, many residents expressed their frustration. Sai Kumar, waiting in line for nearly 25 minutes, remarked, “Hundreds of vehicles are here for filling.” Meanwhile, Marri Amarender Reddy, president of the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association, criticized oil companies for imposing sudden restrictions that directly affect citizens during such a crisis.
Stephan Reveendra, IPS, Commissioner of the Civil Supplies Department, urged the public to refrain from panic buying, emphasizing that the fuel supply mechanism is functioning normally. However, temporary stock issues have been reported in areas like Bahadurpura and Mir Alam.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact reason for the sudden surge in demand, and the timeline for when normal fuel supply will resume is uncertain. As residents continue to navigate this challenging situation, the hope remains that calm will soon return to the petrol stations of Hyderabad.
