India needs a Digital Essential Commodities Misinformation Policy to enable real-time government–platform coordination, curb viral supply rumours, and prevent panic buying that disrupts markets and public trust
Despite repeated assurances from oil marketing companies, district officials and police that fuel reserves in Hyderabad are sufficient for 60 days, panic buying continued across the city. Officials clarified there is no scarcity of petrol or diesel, but the surge in demand temporarily affected supply at some outlets.
Panic buying of petrol and LPG cylinders spread across several states amid fears of fuel shortage linked to the West Asia crisis, even as the government assured Parliament that supplies remain adequate and warned people against rumours and black marketing
