People queue up to refuel at a gas station in Secunderabad on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) | Photo credit: RAMAKRISHNA G
Panic buying triggered by rumors of fuel shortages led to a three-fold increase in petrol and diesel sales in Telangana, causing temporary stock-outs at several petrol stations, the Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association (TPDA) said on Wednesday (March 25, 2026). It said that sufficient fuel stocks are available at HPCL, IOCL and BPCL and supply chains are functioning normally.
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The association warned against storing petrol or diesel in cans or unauthorized containers, citing safety concerns. It noted that such practices violate Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) standards and pose serious risks, including fires. Improper fuel storage is neither safe nor approved.
The association said in a statement that the spread of false and misleading information in recent days has prompted people to rush to gas stations and fill up their tanks unnecessarily, leading to an abnormal increase in demand.
Speaking to The Hindu, TPDA General Secretary Vinod Vishwanath said that the sudden rush witnessed over the past two days was entirely due to rumors and not due to any disruption in supply. He said panic-driven demand briefly stretched inventory at some stores, but the overall supply situation remains stable.
“There is no shortage of petrol or diesel. People need not panic. Supply continues as usual and sales will return to normal levels soon,” he said, adding that the situation was already beginning to stabilise.
Usual supplies at gas stations
Giving an overview of fuel availability, he noted that an average petrol pump in urban areas like Hyderabad usually maintains around 30,000 to 40,000 liters of petrol and about 30,000 liters of diesel. In rural areas, stores generally stock at least 10,000 liters of petrol and 20,000 liters of diesel.
Number of fuel dispensers in Telangana
The association pointed out that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area has around 600-700 fuel outlets, while Telangana as a whole has around 3,000 outlets operated by HPCL, IOCL and BPCL and adequate stocks are available with these companies.
Published – 25 March 2026 11:21 AM IST
