Fuel scare in Gujarat: Some petrol pumps run dry amid Middle East tensions

A brief wave of anxiety swept across parts of Gujarat on Monday after several petrol pumps in Ahmedabad and Rajkot reportedly ran out of fuel, triggering long queues and prompting concerns among motorists over a possible shortage.

The disruption coincided with heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia, fuelling speculation of a supply crunch. However, industry representatives were quick to dismiss such fears, maintaining that there is no actual shortage of petrol or diesel in the state.

The Federation of Gujarat Petroleum Dealers Association (FGPDA) clarified that fuel stocks remain adequate across Gujarat and that the temporary outages at select pumps were due to logistical constraints rather than any systemic supply issue.

According to dealers, a number of outlets remained shut for a few hours owing to delays in replenishment, which, coupled with panic buying, led to visible shortages in certain areas. The situation was particularly pronounced in urban centres, where rumours of disruption led to a sudden spike in demand.

Dhimant Ghelani, General Secretary of the association, urged the public to remain calm and avoid hoarding. “There is sufficient availability of fuel across cities, and all petrol pumps are working to ensure an uninterrupted supply. Citizens should not panic,” he said.

The association attributed the temporary disruption to delays in fuel transportation caused by holidays over the past few days, which affected the supply chain. Officials indicated that normalcy is expected to return within the week as distribution stabilises.

In a bid to address the issue, the FGPDA has taken up the matter with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to streamline supply and resolve operational challenges faced by dealers.

Following discussions, the IOC has introduced temporary adjustments to fuel lifting norms aimed at improving distribution efficiency. Under the revised arrangement, two dealers can jointly procure up to 20,000 litres of fuel in a single transaction, enabling quicker replenishment of stocks at retail outlets.

Industry sources said efforts are also underway to address technical bottlenecks affecting dealers, while broader concerns, including operational constraints and commission structures, are likely to be raised with oil companies in the coming days.

Ghelani cautioned that misinformation often exacerbates such situations. “Rumours tend to trigger panic buying, which in turn creates artificial shortages and long queues. There is no need for the public to stockpile fuel,” he said.

Officials from the IOC reiterated that fuel availability across Gujarat remains stable and is being managed efficiently, with authorities and dealers working in coordination to prevent any sustained disruption in supply.