No Need For Panic Buying: Indian Oil Says Fuel, LPG Stocks Are Ample

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd assured the public on Friday that fuel and LPG supplies remain stable across the country. In a statement, the company said, "Indian Oil has ample fuel stocks across the country and our supply lines are operating smoothly. There is no need for panic buying -fuel and LPG are readily available at all our outlets."

It further urged the public to remain calm and avoid unnecessary panic buying, emphasising that doing so would help the company maintain smooth supply operations and ensure uninterrupted fuel availability for everyone. "Help us serve you better by staying calm and avoiding unnecessary rush. This will keep our supply lines running seamlessly and ensure uninterrupted fuel access for all,” it said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

This advisory follows a wave of social media posts and videos showing long queues at petrol stations, as people rushed to stock up on fuel amid rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations. The panic was triggered by 'Operation Sindoor', a coordinated missile strike targeting terrorist infrastructure at nine locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Panic Buying

On Wednesday, widespread panic buying was reported across parts of Punjab, particularly in border areas, where residents rushed to stock up on fuel and essential supplies. According to a Hindustan Times report citing a local petrol pump owner, fuel sales have tripled amid growing public anxiety.

The surge in tension follows a retaliatory strike by India—dubbed 'Operation Sindoor'—in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, including a Nepali national, in the Baisaran Valley. Since the strike, diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have been downgraded, and tensions have steadily escalated. Pakistan has reportedly violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and launched heavy artillery shelling in border areas, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 civilians.

Blackouts

On Thursday, blackouts were enforced in several cities across Punjab, including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, and Chandigarh, after Pakistan launched a series of missile and drone attacks in border regions. According to a PTI report, air raid sirens were sounded in Pathankot shortly after the blackout was initiated around 8:30 pm.

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