Panic buying of fuel, serpentine queues comes back haunting vehicle users in Medak

Rumours of a fuel shortage triggered panic buying in Sangareddy, leading to long queues at petrol stations, with several outlets running dry as vehicle owners rushed to store petrol and diesel despite officials assuring adequate supply

Sangareddy: The panic buying of petrol and diesel and serpentine queues at petrol bunks came back to haunt citizens of the erstwhile Medak district. As rumours about a fuel shortage spread, vehicle owners made a beeline to petrol bunks from early morning on Monday.

Many came to fuel stations carrying cans and drums to store fuel, fearing a shortage in the coming days. Since diesel and petrol are essential for commercial vehicles, transport, cabs, tractors, harvesters and other vehicles, many preferred to store fuel as a shortage would hamper their operations.

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It took two to three hours to fill fuel tanks at certain stations in the district on Monday. Though civil supplies department officials announced that there was no shortage of fuel, the statement found few takers.

With excessive buying, several petrol stations went dry and displayed ‘no stock’ boards.