The surge in demand has come despite repeated assurances from oil marketing companies (OMCs) that there has been no disruption in fuel supply and that adequate stocks are available at present.
While the Iran-Israel war has not directly impacted India yet, the current conflict has raised concerns among individuals regarding fuel scarcity in the upcoming weeks. In expectation of increased demand during the harvest season and the approaching paddy sowing period, farmers in various rural regions of Punjab are said to have started panic purchasing of fuel.
Confirming the situation, the chairman of the Punjab Petrol Dealers’ Association, Ashok Sachdeva, stated that panic buying had notably increased in rural regions.
“The harvest season is approaching and soon, farmers will begin sowing paddy. With the war between Iran and Israel continuing, farmers fear there may be a shortage of fuel in the coming weeks. To avoid inconvenience, many farmers in rural areas have started purchasing fuel in bulk for storage,” Sachdeva said.
He added that petrol pumps in rural areas had witnessed a 30-40 per cent rise in fuel sales in recent days. Farmer leader Tarsem Jodhan from the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha also acknowledged the trend, saying that panic buying often increases during uncertain situations.
“I’ve gotten feedback from Jodhan and surrounding areas where petrol vendors have affirmed that individuals are buying fuel in large quantities to stay cautious.” It’s human nature; nobody desires to take chances. Should the conflict persist for a month or more, there are concerns that India may face a fuel shortage.
“To prevent that scenario, a number of farmers have begun storing fuel,” Jodhan mentioned.
The surge in demand has come despite repeated assurances from oil marketing companies (OMCs) that there has been no disruption in fuel supply and that adequate stocks are available at present.
At the same time, residents fear that if fuel supplies tighten, dealers or oil companies may increase prices. Sachdeva, however, reiterated that oil companies had assured dealers that there was no shortage of fuel.
“Regardless of these guarantees, we are seeing a significant increase in fuel sales. In cities, sales have risen by about 25 percent, whereas in rural regions the rise is close to 40 percent. We urge individuals to remain calm and avoid hoarding fuel, as it poses safety risks. However, he mentioned that if there is a disparity between demand and supply, prices could ultimately increase.”
