Panic grips Hyderabad as petrol stations run dry amid truck drivers' strike

HYDERABAD: Motorists in the city have resorted to panic buying of petrol and diesel due to fears of shortage in the wake of a nationwide truckers' strike.

Serpentine queues were witnessed across many fuel stations in the city on Monday which hit traffic movement in busy areas such as Begumpet, Punjagutta circle, Banjara Hills Road No 12, Gachibowli, Langar Houz, Afzalgunj and Khairatabad.

Truckers, taxi, and bus operators initiated a countrywide strike to protest against the newly-passed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which imposed a Rs 7 lakh penalty and a 10-year jail term for hit-and-run cases. The All India Motor Transport Congress argued that these provisions could lead to undue harassment and demanded that the law should be recalled.

The strike has thrown fuel supply chains into disarray, prompting motorists to scramble for dwindling reserves.

With oil tanker owners refusing to transport fuel, long lines of cars and two-wheelers became a familiar sight across the city.

In the last week of December, anticipating possible fuel price cuts by the Central Government, some bunk owners opted not to refill their tanks, creating a readymade recipe for panic amongst motorists. As a result, several petrol pumps hoisted "no Petrol signboards, leaving drivers worried and frustrated.

The fear of empty pumps triggered a domino effect, with more and more bunk owners across Hyderabad pre-emptively displaying "no stock" boards to manage the rush.

G Vinay Kumar, president, Telangana State Petrol Dealers Association, shared, "On December 31, 2023 speculation about potential fuel price reductions led dealers to delay refueling. This, coupled with the sudden strike on Monday, created a perfect storm, leaving numerous stations in Hyderabad facing shortages."

By Tuesday evening, tanker lorry associations decided to call off the strike. Accordingly, fuel would be available in the city by tonight and in districts by Wednesday.