NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday cautioned against panic buying of fuel, warning that petrol pumps could be shut for a few days if people continue to crowd fuel stations based on rumours.Responding to reports of long queues at fuel outlets, Abdullah said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the Union Territory and urged residents to avoid “camping outside petrol pumps”.“My earnest request is that you stop lining up unnecessarily, otherwise I will be forced to shut all petrol pumps for the next few days,” he said, expressing concern over what he described as rumour-driven panic.The chief minister said a recent government review had confirmed adequate availability of fuel and cooking gas, and that the situation remains unchanged. “It is regrettable that when the government speaks, no one listens, but everyone believes rumours,” he added.Abdullah also clarified that there has been no directive to restrict fuel usage and appealed to the public to rely on official communication rather than unverified social media posts.He said he would attend a virtual meeting of chief ministers convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to review preparedness in the context of the ongoing Middle East situation.Authorities have urged citizens to maintain normal consumption patterns, warning that panic buying could itself disrupt supply chains despite adequate stock availability.
