Fuel rush grips city as rumours of price hike spark panic buying

Surat: A wave of panic buying gripped the city’s fuel stations on Thursday, with residents rushing to top up petrol and diesel tanks amid rumours of an imminent price hike and possible supply shortage. Long queues stretched across several pumps by evening, with some outlets reporting temporary depletion of stock as demand surged sharply over the past two days.

The situation had been building since Tuesday, when rumours of a fuel price hike and reduced availability began circulating. By Wednesday, queues were already visible at a few petrol stations, but the rush intensified significantly on Thursday as more motorists joined the crowd, fearing they might not be able to refuel later.

Fuel station owners said sales have seen a sharp increase in recent weeks, driven largely by rising public anxiety. According to pump operators, fuel sales have gone up by around 22% over the past month. They cautioned that continued panic buying could further strain local inventories, even where regular supply arrangements remain in place.

Sources in the distribution network said supply to several petrol pumps was temporarily affected due to repair work on a fuel pipeline connecting Surat to a nearby town. This disrupted deliveries at some outlets and added to uncertainty in the supply chain. Combined with reports of reduced availability at certain pumps, the disruption further fuelled panic buying among residents.

Officials have not issued any formal advisory on the situation. However, petrol pump operators have urged consumers to avoid hoarding and purchase only what is required, warning that excessive buying can create artificial shortages even when overall supply remains stable.

“There is panic buying at fuel pumps and people are worrying unnecessarily. There is no shortage of fuel and sufficient supply is being maintained,” said Dhiren Tamakuwala.