Bhubaneswar and Cuttack witnessed chaotic scenes on Friday as residents resorted to panic buying of fuel, leading to kilometres-long queues and traffic snarls near most petrol pumps. The rush was triggered by fears of a possible shortage due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, despite the government's assurance of adequate supply and a price hike.
Chaos at Fuel Stations
Hundreds of motorists thronged petrol pumps since early morning, hours before they opened, leading to chaotic scenes. Traffic came to a standstill on key stretches, including Jaydev Vihar-Nandan Kanan Road and Janpath in Bhubaneswar, and Link Road in Cuttack. Police had to be deployed at multiple locations to regulate crowds and ensure smooth vehicular movement.
"I have been standing here since 6am. The pump opened late and within minutes, the queue stretched for over a kilometre. People are scared about supply disruptions. This has triggered the current situation. Despite the hike in fuel price today (Friday), the queues are only getting longer," said Saty Das, a commuter at a filling station near Rasulgarh.
Government Assurance vs Ground Reality
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd chief general manager Kamal Sheel assured that sufficient stocks are maintained at all locations. "Oil companies have stocks for 10 to 13 days at their supply points. There is no shortage of fuel anywhere in the state. There is absolutely no need to panic," he said. However, the ground situation remained tense, with several pumps either running dry temporarily or witnessing long waiting lines. At some outlets, people alleged that filling station operators are restricting the fuel refilling per vehicle and are not allowing them to fill as per their choice.
Impact on Tourism and Agriculture
Boat operators at tourist spots like Puri and Chilika struggled to procure fuel in containers. "Tourists are waiting but we cannot operate boats regularly as we are not getting diesel in containers. The filling stations are now refusing to give us fuel in cans," said Narasingha Kaibarta, a boat operator in Puri.
Farmers also complained of a shortage of diesel for their irrigation pump sets during the critical irrigation period. "We need diesel in containers for irrigation, but pumps are refusing to give it. Even a day's delay can impact crops," said Prasanna Patra, a farmer from Khurda district.
Similar Scenes in Cuttack
In Cuttack, similar scenes unfolded with motorists blocking roads while waiting for their turn. "There was a massive traffic jam near a petrol pump. Police had to intervene to clear the congestion. I have never seen this kind of mad rush at the petrol pumps," said Ajay Das, a local shopkeeper.
