Bhubaneswar and Cuttack witnessed an unusual rush at filling stations on Thursday, driven by fears of a potential fuel price hike and rumors of a supply crunch. Residents queued up at pumps across the twin cities to top up their tanks, leading to brisk sales and early closures at several outlets after daily stocks were exhausted.
Dealers Dismiss Concerns of Shortage
Dealers, however, dismissed concerns of any shortage and urged citizens not to panic. Sanjay Lath, general secretary of the Utkal Petroleum Dealers’ Association, stated, “At present, there is absolutely no shortage of petrol or diesel. Supply is normal and uninterrupted.” He advised citizens against panic, noting that such rumors create unnecessary pressure on retail outlets. Several filling stations have reported higher-than-usual daily sales in recent days, leading to early closures in some districts and the state capital.
Motorists Stock Up Amid Uncertainty
Despite assurances, filling stations experienced high footfall. Dealers observed that consumers who typically opted for partial refilling were now insisting on full tanks. Ramchandra Naik, a pump manager at Chandrasekharpur, said, “This sudden surge has led to faster exhaustion of stocks at some outlets.” Motorists admitted that uncertainty prompted them to stock up. Anil Mohanty, a private employee from Saheed Nagar, explained, “There are talks of a price hike, which we can’t ignore. I don’t want to be caught off guard if prices go up or pumps run dry. That is why I topped up my car and bike today.”
Misinformation Fuels Panic
Residents echoed similar concerns. Sasmita Nag, a resident of Acharya Vihar, said, “There is too much news and too many WhatsApp messages doing the rounds. Even if officials say there is no problem, people are unsure. Filling the tank fully gives some peace of mind.” Dealers acknowledged that misinformation played a key role in triggering the rush. Ramakant Ojha, a filling station employee near Vani Vihar Square, noted, “Social media forwards and word-of-mouth rumors about a fuel crisis have caused this situation. Once people see queues, more people join, fearing a shortage.”
Oil Companies Reiterate Normal Supply
Officials from oil marketing companies reiterated that there was no disruption in supply from depots and deliveries to retail outlets continued as per schedule. An official stated, “There is no shortage at the refinery or depot level as of now. All the retail outlets are being supplied regularly.”
