Srinagar, Mar 26: For the second consecutive day petrol pumps across Kashmir witnessed panic buying on Thursday while there were long queues for cooking gas cylinders.
People made a beeline for fuel stations in Srinagar city and other parts of the Valley with their vehicles, cans and bottles, leading to serpentine queues.
Many fuel stations were shut and were turning away people, saying their pumps had run dry.
In many places, people had to wait for hours to fill up the fuel tanks of their vehicles.
“I had to wait for more than an hour for my turn as there was a huge rush,” said Abid Ahmed, a resident of uptown Srinagar.
There has been panic buying of petrol and diesel in the Valley amid rumours that due to the conflict in West Asia, fuel supply was short and there could be a lockdown in the country in the wake of an “energy crisis”.
A petrol pump owner in Srinagar said people were unnecessarily creating panic and resorting to panic buying.
“There is sufficient fuel supply but people are unnecessarily panicking and filling the tanks of their vehicles with fuel,” he said.
Some petrol pumps and fuel agencies are limiting the sale to ensure adequate stock.
At some places in Srinagar, there were also long queues of people waiting for LPG cylinders.
People are complaining that the gas agencies have stopped home deliveries of LPG cylinders in some places.
The authorities have urged the people to remain calm and not resort to panic buying.
“Sufficient quantity of LPG and petroleum products is available across the Valley. It is being replenished regularly to ensure an uninterrupted supply,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg.
Garg has warned of stringent legal action against individuals who spread misinformation or attempt to incite unnecessary panic among the public.