Panic buying grips petrol pumps across MP:Heavy rush reported, police intervene in Rewa, Bhopal pump sealed

Amid the backdrop of the Iran–Israel conflict, panic buying triggered by rumors led to heavy crowds at petrol pumps across Madhya Pradesh. Long queues were reported at several locations, with tense situations emerging in some areas. In Rewa, police had to be called on Wednesday to manage the crowd, while in Bhopal, a petrol pump was sealed following complaints of irregularities. Government dismisses shortage concerns State minister Govind Singh Rajput assured that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in the state and that supply remains uninterrupted. Madhya Pradesh Petrol Pump Owners Association president Ajay Singh described the situation as “panic similar to an LPG cylinder crisis,” clarifying that there is no actual shortage anywhere in the state. He added that Bhopal alone has fuel stock sufficient for 2.5 to 3 months. A few pumps running dry are due to exhausted credit limits with oil companies, not supply shortages. Credit policy changes affect some pumps Earlier, petrol pump operators were given a five-day credit window by oil companies, which has now been discontinued. Many operators are unable to make advance payments, leading to temporary stockouts at select outlets. However, such cases account for only 1–2% of the state’s total 4,200 petrol pumps. See, Wednesday’s pictures Surge in demand disrupts supply chain According to Ajay Singh, rumor-driven panic buying has sharply increased fuel consumption, affecting supply logistics. Daily petrol sales per pump, which averaged around 20,000 liters, have doubled to 40,000–45,000 liters over the past two days. This sudden spike has strained the supply system. In Bhopal, which has 192 petrol pumps, 5–7 outlets occasionally run dry due to delayed deliveries or unusually high demand—a situation consistent with past trends. Bhopal pump sealed over irregularities Despite adequate availability—estimated at 580 million liters (enough for three months)—a petrol pump on Airport Road in Bhopal was sealed after a complaint that only ₹200 worth of petrol was being dispensed per motorcycle. Food Controller Chandrabhan Singh Jadaun inspected the site and found multiple violations, including: Following this, one dispensing unit was sealed, and 102 liters of excess diesel were confiscated. Strict administrative orders The district collector in Bhopal has directed all petrol pump operators to: Provide fuel as per consumer demand at fixed prices Avoid setting arbitrary limits or prices Failure to comply will result in strict action, including FIR registration. Operators have also been instructed to maintain adequate stock at all times. Minister urges public not to panic Minister Govind Singh Rajput reiterated that panic buying due to rumors has caused unnecessary queues in some districts. He emphasized: There is no shortage of petrol or diesel Continuous supply is being ensured from depots Prices remain stable He urged citizens not to panic or hoard fuel, assuring that monitoring is being carried out at the state level. LPG supply also hit; delays in home delivery Waiting period extends to 6–11 days Following the Iran–Israel tensions, LPG supply in Bhopal has also been impacted. Consumers are facing delays of 6 to 11 days for home delivery of domestic cylinders, leading to overcrowding at gas agencies. Although commercial cylinder supply resumed under new guidelines, availability remains limited, affecting hotels, restaurants, and small vendors. Over 700 commercial cylinders were supplied on Wednesday, but demand still exceeds supply. New rules slow domestic cylinder distribution The situation for domestic LPG is more critical. Under new capping rules introduced by Indian Oil Corporation (Indane), the waiting period between bookings has increased. Even after online billing, delivery now takes 6–8 days. Offline distribution has been stopped, forcing consumers to visit agencies directly, sometimes leading to disputes. Bhopal has around 700,000 LPG consumers, including approximately 200,000 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Limited supply for commercial users Under the new guidelines: This means that where businesses earlier received 10 cylinders, they now get only one, severely impacting operations. Stock available, but delivery delayed Authorities claim LPG stock in Bhopal is sufficient for 6–7 days, with daily consumption exceeding 450 metric tonnes. However, delivery delays persist due to supply chain adjustments and increased demand. The Bhouri plant has extended operations until 10 PM to improve supply, but normalization may take time.