State govt, dealers clarify no fuel shortage, urge citizens to stay calm

Amid a wave of misleading social media rumours , panic buying swept across Hyderabad over the past two days, creating long queues at petrol pumps and giving rise to fears of a fuel crisis. However, the Telangana government and fuel dealers have categorically clarified that there is no fuel shortage anywhere in the state. The situation escalated after unverified claims went viral, prompting motorists to rush to filling stations, pushing demand to nearly 2.5 to 3 times normal levels and causing temporary stock depletion at some outlets.

In an official press note dated March 25 , the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association reassured the public that adequate fuel stocks are available across Telangana. It confirmed that major oil companies HPCL, IOCL, and BPCL have sufficient reserves and that supply chains are functioning normally without any disruption. Dealers emphasized that the “no stock” situations seen at certain pumps were not due to supply issues, but purely the result of panic buying driven by rumours.

Authorities also raised serious concerns over unsafe practices, warning that storing fuel in bottles or cans violates PESO safety norms and poses significant fire hazards . Citizens have been strongly advised to avoid such actions and to purchase fuel only as per their regular needs. Reinforcing these assurances, officials stated that fuel transportation and distribution remain uninterrupted, with continuous tanker movement ensuring steady availability.

Appealing for calm, Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar and Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar urged the public not to believe or spread fake news , cautioning that unnecessary crowding at fuel stations could disrupt traffic and public order. Despite reports of commuters waiting in queues for extended periods, officials reiterated that the situation is not a real crisis but a rumour-driven surge in demand . With sufficient reserves and a stable supply system in place, the government stressed that the fuel situation in Telangana remains fully under control .