LPG and petrol panic buying hits Hyderabad despite government assurances

Panic buying over alleged fuel shortages has caused long queues at petrol bunks and auto LPG stations across Hyderabad. Citizens and autorickshaw drivers face delays, while families struggle to manage school commutes despite government assurances of adequate supplies

Hyderabad: Despite government assurances of adequate LPG cylinders and fuel supplies in the city, panic-stricken citizens continue to form long queues at LPG distributors’ offices and fuel stations.

Serpentine queues were witnessed at auto LPG stations and petrol bunks in the city since Monday night following reports of short supply of fuel. “I have been waiting for half an hour for my turn. Last night, the management had closed down the fuel station due to rush. Today when they resumed the job, it is crowded again,” complained Ramesh Naik, a resident of Banjara Colony, Falaknuma, who was waiting at a fuel station at Falaknuma Road.

The situation at fuel stations was similar across the city including Amberpet, Attapur, Chandanagar, Kukatpally, Moghalpura, Bahadurpura, Kanchanbagh, Uppal, and Alwal.

“Usually, it takes around five minutes to get petrol at the fuel station, but today it was a 45-minute wait. People are getting fuel tanks filled to brim, and it could also be a reason for the long waiting time,” said Mohd Ashraf, a businessman from Mehdipatnam.

Long lines continued to be noticed at auto LPG stations too in the city on Tuesday.

“On average, we have to wait for around 30 minutes at the gas station in afternoons. During morning and evenings, the waiting time is around an hour. Many gas stations have put up ‘no stock’ boards and open only for a few hours a day,” complained Miya Bhai, an autorickshaw driver.

“People are not ready to pay a higher fare despite the unofficial hike in auto LPG gas at the stations. They argue with us saying nothing official has been announced,” said Shanker, another autorickshaw driver.

Meanwhile, auto drivers who regularly take children to schools and colleges are demanding extra amount citing the auto LPG shortage. “We have to pay extra; otherwise, the auto driver will not come and we have to drop the children to schools and colleges,” said Yahiya Khan, a government school teacher.