Lucknow: The current fuel situation in Uttar Pradesh is not a crisis of supply but of sudden and excessive consumption, driven largely by rumours, claimed officials and fuel dealers.In Lucknow alone, daily fuel consumption on IOCL’s fuel stations jumped sharply between March 21-25, rising from around 7.23 lakh litres per day to nearly 12.07 lakh litres. Officials said this spike, triggered by panic buying, emptied retail tanks faster than usual and fueled further rumours of shortage, creating a cycle of rush and anxiety. Officials said what began as scattered messages on social media soon escalated into a statewide rush, with motorists scrambling to fill their tanks amid fears of an impending fuel shortage. Sarvesh Vajpayee, a member of the Lucknow Petrol Dealers Association and owner of SR Filling Station near Engineering College in Lucknow, said petrol pumps are operating round the clock with sufficient stock. “There is no need for people to panic or store fuel. Petrol and diesel are available in adequate quantities, and supply is smooth,” he said.At a privately owned BPCL fuel station near South City, fuel sales were halted by 1pm on Thursday. But by 3pm, the station started refunctioning after replenishment arrived. Despite these local disruptions, state-level coordinator Sanjay Bhandari maintained that there was no fuel shortage. He said Uttar Pradesh’s 13,168 petrol pumps currently have sufficient reserves, with a total availability of around 20 to 22 days. Retail outlets have an average of five days of stock, while oil company depots hold an additional 16-17 days. Bhandari also acknowledged a nearly 30% rise in fuel demand over the past three days due to panic buying. Lucknow Petrol Dealers Association chairman Virendra Pratap Singh said the supply mechanism has changed since the West Asia conflict. “Earlier, tankers were dispatched proactively. Now, stations are supplied against credit limits or advance payments,” he said. President of UP Petrol Dealers Association, Ranjeet Kumar, urged people not to believe in unverified information, and insisted that supplies from IOCL, HPCL and BPCL remained smooth.UP govt has warned of tough action against individuals spreading misleading information on social media. Authorities said such rumours are being circulated by “mischievous elements” to create panic. “Those found spreading false messages regarding fuel shortage will be identified and face strict legal action,” officials said .
