Wardha, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Akola: Panic swept through multiple districts of Vidarbha on Tuesday as long queues choked fuel stations in Wardha, Chandrapur and Yavatmal, despite official assurances of adequate petrol and diesel stocks. The sudden rush of motorists sparked chaos at several pumps, disrupted traffic, and heightened public anxiety across the region.Rumours of an impending fuel shortage triggered long queues and crowding at petrol pumps in Chandrapur. Officials clarified that there is no shortage of fuel in Chandrapur district, and that supply chains remain fully operational. The sudden surge in demand, they said, was driven not by any disruption in supply but by misinformation circulating on social media.Senior officials acknowledged that the situation had led to visible public anxiety, with motorists rushing to stock up on fuel, causing congestion at several outlets in both urban centres and rural pockets. “The stock position is adequate, and replenishment is taking place regularly. There is no cause for concern,” officials reiterated.In Wardha, a sudden rush was witnessed at petrol pumps across the district. Long queues of vehicles were seen at pumps in Bajaj Chowk, Aarti Chowk and Shanti Nagar, affecting traffic movement in several areas.The unexpected crowd led to tense situations at some petrol pumps, with staff coming under pressure due to the surge in demand. Police intervened promptly to manage the situation and ease traffic congestion. The district administration later clarified that there is no shortage of fuel in Wardha.Long queues were also seen outside fuel stations and gas agencies in Yavatmal city, Wani, and Pusad as citizens and vehicle owners feared disruptions in supply. The situation has started affecting the prices of essential commodities. Vegetables and edible oils have already witnessed noticeable price hikes. While residents of Amravati are facing a shortage of domestic gas cylinders, the situation is much better with regard to vehicle fuel. All the petrol pumps in Amravati city witnessed business as usual without any panic buying by citizens. Saurabh Jagtap, secretary of Amravati District Petrol Dealers Association, said there isn’t any scarcity of vehicle fuel in the city.Across Akola city and nearby areas, petrol pumps operated smoothly with adequate supply of both petrol and diesel on Tuesday. No long queues or congestion were observed at petrol pumps. However, a noticeable increase in footfall was reported at LPG filling stations in the city. Auto-rickshaw drivers and vehicles running on LPG were seen lining up in larger numbers. A similar scenario was observed in neighbouring Buldhana district, where petrol, diesel, and LPG are being supplied without disruption. There were no reports of crowding, panic buying at fuel stations.
