Ahmedabad, March 25, 2026: Panic spread through Ahmedabad earlier this week after rumours of a petrol shortage sparked massive queues at petrol pumps, long waiting times, and commuter chaos. What began as isolated reports of a few petrol stations temporarily running out of stock quickly escalated into widespread fear, with residents rushing to fill their tanks and creating traffic bottlenecks in several areas of the city.
What Triggered the Panic?
On Monday, numerous fuel stations across Ahmedabad experienced unusually high demand as motorists — fearing an impending shortage — queued for hours to refuel. Reports from local media and residents described long lines stretching hundreds of meters, particularly in neighbourhoods such as Sarkhej, Makarba, Vejalpur, and Paldi, where waiting times reportedly reached up to an hour. Police had to deploy additional personnel around fuel stations to manage crowds and maintain order.
The surge was amplified on social media platforms, where unverified claims of petrol scarcity spread rapidly, prompting even more people to rush to pumps. In reality, there was no official announcement of any fuel shortage, and authorities quickly pointed out that adequate fuel supplies were available.
🛢️ Was There Really a Shortage?
Oil companies and government officials stepped in to clarify the situation. Major Indian oil firms — including Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation — issued statements asserting that petrol, diesel and LPG supplies remain normal and adequate across the country. They labelled the rumours of a shortage as false and discouraged panic buying.
Industry sources explained that a temporary delay in fuel deliveries to a few pumps — due to logistical scheduling and supply chain timing — may have caused shortfalls at individual outlets. However, this was not indicative of a systemic issue.
👮 Government Response and Public Reaction
The Gujarat Police increased their presence by deploying officers near fuel stations to manage crowds and ensure traffic flows smoothly amid long queues. While calm was largely maintained, police appealed to the public not to panic buy and assured them that supplies were sufficient.
In the state assembly, lawmakers debated the panic buying incident, with some legislators demanding urgent discussion, while the ruling party dismissed the concerns as driven by misinformation. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi characterised the rumours as a deliberate attempt to spread fear, noting that no region had experienced an actual fuel shortage.
🚗 How Panic Buying Escalated the Situation
According to social media discussions and local reports, a combination of rumours, temporary supply delays, and panic buying behaviours helped create the illusion of scarcity. Some petrol pump operators acknowledged that a handful of stations temporarily ran out of fuel, but they clarified that deliveries were expected to resume normally once demand stabilised.
Online commentary from Ahmedabad residents highlighted how fear and misinformation drove crowds to petrol stations and exacerbated traffic congestion, despite assurances of adequate supplies.
