The situation surrounding petrol and diesel availability in Odisha intensified further on Saturday as long queues continued outside fuel stations across the state despite repeated assurances from the government and oil companies regarding adequate stock availability.
Heavy crowds were witnessed at petrol pumps from daytime till late night on Friday, with people reportedly waiting for several hours to obtain fuel. Similar scenes were reported from multiple districts over the last three days, while the situation in Bhubaneswar remained tense amid continued panic buying.
Long Queues Persist Across Odisha
People using two-wheelers and four-wheelers were seen standing in long queues at several fuel stations, causing inconvenience for commuters, emergency workers and essential service providers.
Despite repeated appeals from the Odisha government and oil companies not to panic, fear of fuel shortage reportedly continued to drive heavy crowds at petrol pumps across the state.
The Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department had earlier stated that sufficient petrol and diesel stock was available and there was no need for panic buying. Oil company officials had also assured uninterrupted fuel supply.
However, the rush at fuel stations showed little sign of easing, with many residents reportedly spending hours under extreme heat and late-night conditions to refill their vehicles.
Berhampur Fuel Stations Witness Massive Rush
Long queues were also reported from Berhampur, where fuel stations witnessed heavy crowds immediately after reopening.
One local resident said the petrol pump had remained closed for the previous two days and people gathered soon after operations resumed.
“We have been standing here for the past half an hour to fill fuel in my bike,” the customer said.
A petrol pump worker stated that barricades had been installed to manage the crowd and maintain order due to limited manpower at the station.
“We have nearly 8,000 litres each of petrol and diesel. Given the crowd, we do not think this will last for long and we may have to shut the petrol pump again,” the worker said.
Public Concern Grows Amid Uncertainty
Customers across several districts expressed concern over the prolonged queues and uncertainty surrounding fuel availability.
Another resident said the situation appeared similar across Odisha, with people being forced to wait for long durations to purchase limited quantities of petrol and diesel.
Officials continue to monitor the situation while meetings are being held at the government level regarding fuel distribution and crowd management at petrol pumps.
The Odisha government has repeatedly appealed to citizens not to purchase fuel beyond requirement or store petrol in containers, warning that panic buying is contributing significantly to the sudden spike in demand.
