PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
President of the Dehradun Petrol Pump Dealers Association Ashish Mittal has urged the public not to believe rumours regarding a shortage of petrol and diesel. He assured that they have adequate stock available. He said this after many residents expressed concerns over fuel availability, leading to panic buying in recent days. Long queues have been observed at several petrol pumps across the city during this period.
Recently, petrol pumps in Dehradun have seen a surge in customer footfall, with individuals filling fuel in multiple vehicles. Many residents have reported that this situation has become a cause for concern.
Local resident Amit Chaudhary said that since the implementation of the “save fuel” initiative and the recent hike in prices, residents have become anxious about a potential fuel shortage. To avoid any inconvenience, he has filled up all his vehicles with petrol, citing uncertainty regarding future fuel availability.
Another local resident Pinky Sharma stated that social media is inundated with posts about fuel shortages, which has heightened her anxiety. As a result, she has been visiting the petrol pump regularly to refill her scooter.
Many other residents shared similar views. This wave of concern has led to noticeable crowds at petrol stations in Dehradun.
In response to these concerns, Mittal clarified that the notion of a fuel shortage has been exaggerated, especially on social media. He urged the public not to fall for such rumours and to avoid panic buying, emphasising that they have sufficient fuel stock. He also reassured that there are no disruptions in fuel supply along the Yatra route and that the influx of tourists due to the tourist season will not impact the fuel availability.
According to reports, some petrol pumps in Dehradun have started limiting fuel filling amounts for vehicles. However, Mittal said that no such measures have been officially initiated. He acknowledged that in light of the recent increase in tourist traffic, any particular petrol station may have experienced a decline in available fuel, leading it to adopt limited filling practices temporarily.
