Fuel shortage rumours spark rush at petrol pumps in MP:Queues in Jhabua, Barwani, Maheshwar; Ujjain Collector assures of stock

Amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel, reports of a possible fuel shortage surfaced in Madhya Pradesh, causing concern among citizens. In Bhopal, fuel ran out at 2–3 petrol pumps, triggering panic among residents. However, the administration has clarified that there is no actual shortage and sufficient stock is available across the state. Crowds gather at pumps in several districts In districts like Indore, Ujjain, Neemuch, Dewas, Jhabua, and Agar Malwa, rumours led to a rush at petrol pumps. The sudden surge in demand caused long queues, and some pumps had to shut temporarily. In Agar Malwa, crowds started gathering at fuel stations from Wednesday morning. At one petrol pump, fuel ran out beyond the reserve quota at night, forcing temporary closure. Supply resumed after a tanker arrived in the morning. Bhopal has stock for 2.5 to 3 months According to Bhopal Food Controller Chandrabhan Singh Jadaun, the city currently has 58.79 lakh kilolitres of petrol and diesel in stock, which is sufficient for two and a half to three months. The Madhya Pradesh Petrol Pump Owners Association stated that only around 5% of pumps are facing temporary issues due to advance payment requirements, not due to any actual shortage. Daily supply remains uninterrupted Fuel depots of Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum located in Bhauri are supplying approximately: This supply caters to around 192 petrol pumps in Bhopal, ensuring normal availability. The Bhopal Collector has appealed to citizens not to believe rumours, assuring that petrol, diesel, and domestic LPG are available in sufficient quantities. Rumours trigger panic buying Officials confirmed that the rush at fuel stations was driven by rumours rather than real shortages. The Indore district administration also reiterated that petrol, diesel, and cooking gas supplies are stable and regularly maintained. Association calls shortage claims ‘false’ Petrol Pump Owners Association President Ajay Singh stated that reports of pumps running dry are baseless. He clarified that there is no fuel crisis anywhere in Madhya Pradesh. Advance payment rule behind temporary issues The association explained that new rules require petrol pump operators to make advance payments before lifting fuel from companies. As a result, some operators are clearing pending dues while arranging advance payments, leading to temporary supply issues at a small number of pumps. Statewide fuel network Madhya Pradesh has around 4,200 petrol pumps, with an annual consumption of: Despite isolated disruptions, officials maintain that the overall fuel supply situation remains stable.