Nagpur: A flurry of forwards, reels and hurried phone calls turned ordinary weekdays into a scramble for fuel, as Nagpur saw long lines at petrol pumps through Tuesday and Wednesday.The momentum built steadily, a day after the govt spoke briefly on the situation on the West Asia conflict, hinting towards the “Covid-like situation”. Around the same time, messages underlining at an impending fuel crunch began circulating widely on WhatsApp groups and Instagram reels. Many of these carried visuals of crowded pumps, often without clear location or context.“I woke up to at least five messages saying petrol might run out in a day or two. Then I saw reels showing long queues. After that, it didn’t feel like something to ignore,” said Ankit Sharma, a resident of Dharampeth, who queued up for nearly 40 minutes outside a pump on Tuesday evening.For many, the decision to refuel was reinforced through personal networks. “My father called me twice asking if I had filled petrol. He saw messages in his office group,” said Rohan Meshram, a college student from Manish Nagar.Even senior district administration officials, following a review meeting on Wednesday, reiterated that fuel supplies remain normal and cautioned against panic triggered by unverified information. “It has come to our notice that false messages regarding petrol and diesel shortage are being circulated on social media. Strict action will be taken against those spreading rumours,” the district administration said, adding that police deployment at petrol pumps has been stepped up wherever required to manage crowds and maintain order.At several pumps, the rush intensified by evening, with queues spilling onto main roads. Pump operators said the spike was sudden and unlike routine demand patterns. “There was no issue with supply from our side. But within a few hours, the number of vehicles doubled, even tripled,” said a fuel station manager in Pratap Nagar.As visuals of crowded pumps continued circulating online, many residents said it reinforced their concerns, prompting more people to step out to refuel. “When you see the same thing on your phone and then hear it from friends and also see the same on the ground, it starts feeling real,” said Sneha Kale, a working professional.
