Tamil Nadu Petrol Stock: Is There A Shortage of Fuel In Chennai? IOCL Issues Clarification

Long queues of anxious motorists were witnessed outside petrol bunks across Chennai and several parts of Tamil Nadu after rumours about an impending fuel shortage spread rapidly, triggering panic buying late Wednesday night and continuing through Thursday.

From the suburbs of Tambaram to Madurantakam and along major routes such as the Chennai-Tiruchy National Highway, Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and East Coast Road (ECR), hundreds of motorists lined up outside fuel stations through the night to fill their vehicle tanks. The situation was not limited to the capital city. Similar scenes were reported from the delta districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai, where people feared petrol bunks would soon run dry.

The sudden rush was fuelled by rumours circulating on social media and messaging platforms claiming that petrol bunks would soon shut down due to a shortage of supply and that prices could rise sharply because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Within hours, the speculation spread widely, leading many residents to rush out of their homes late at night to secure fuel before supplies allegedly ran out.

Several residents who were fast asleep reportedly woke up to phone calls from friends and relatives urging them to immediately head to petrol stations. Many drivers returning from work also joined the queues without even going home first.

While most motorists filled up their vehicle tanks, some went a step further and began stocking petrol and diesel in water cans, plastic bottles and other containers despite safety regulations that prohibit fuel from being dispensed into such items. At several fuel stations, worried customers carried multiple containers hoping to store fuel for future use.

Petrol bunk operators found themselves in a difficult situation. Although the rules clearly prohibit filling petrol or diesel in bottles or unauthorized containers due to safety concerns, some operators said the tense atmosphere made enforcement difficult. In a few places where staff refused to dispense fuel into containers, arguments reportedly broke out between customers and workers, forcing operators to give in to avoid confrontation.

The panic buying quickly began to affect supply at the retail level. Due to the unusually high demand, some petrol bunks temporarily ran out of stock by Thursday afternoon. This led motorists to rush to nearby stations, further increasing the rush and extending waiting times.

Motorists in cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai said they had to wait for over 40 to 45 minutes to fill their tanks. However, the authorities said they were investigating the origin of the rumours that triggered the sudden panic.

In Thanjavur, people brought big plastic containers to stock the fuel and industries have already purchased petrol in advance and stored it in drums, as per a report in The Hindu.

Is There A Petrol & Diesel Shortage In Tamil Nadu?

Amid growing concern among the public, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) issued a clarification assuring that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, Indian Oil said all its petroleum terminals and distribution centres in the state currently hold sufficient stocks to meet consumer demand.

"All of Indian Oil's petroleum terminals and distribution centres in Tamil Nadu are currently holding sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel to meet customer demands," the company said.

The oil major explained that the temporary shortage experienced at a few petrol stations was caused by sudden panic buying rather than an actual disruption in supply.

"In certain locations, a temporary shortage in supply was observed at a few petrol stations due to panic-buying where customers purchased excessive quantities of fuel out of fear," the statement noted.

Indian Oil added that it has begun priority distribution to affected fuel stations and that stock levels across Tamil Nadu are being closely monitored to restore normal availability.

The company also urged the public not to engage in panic buying or hoarding, emphasizing that the fuel supply chain is functioning normally. It warned people against storing petrol in plastic cans or bottles, saying such practices pose serious safety risks.

"Indian Oil strongly urges the public to strictly avoid unsafe practices such as storing petrol in plastic cans, bottles, or unauthorized containers," the statement added.

Speaking to The Hindu, G Ramesh, president of the association's Tiruchi region, said, "We have fuel stock for about 25 days and supplies can be replenished quickly. Panic buying is creating artificial scarcity,"

Meanwhile, fuel prices in Chennai have remained stable. As of Friday, petrol is priced at ₹100.80 per litre, while diesel costs ₹92.39 per litre in the city.

Fuel prices in India are determined by oil marketing companies based on global crude oil prices and the value of the Indian rupee against the US dollar. The Union government had earlier increased excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹2 per litre, taking the duty to ₹13 on petrol and ₹10 on diesel.

Authorities and oil companies have urged the public not to believe unverified social media messages, stressing that petrol and diesel will continue to be available across Tamil Nadu without interruption.