- Saturday, May 10, 2025
The companies made these statements after social media was flooded with posts showing people queuing at petrol pumps to stock fuel as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated
By: India Weekly
FOLLOWING some social media posts of a likely oil shortage in the wake of tensions with Pakistan, India’s top oil retailers have assured the public that have ample stocks and there is no need for panic buying
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), in separate statements on Friday (9), assured of enough stock availability of petrol, diesel and cooking gas LPG and smooth operations.
They made these statements after social media was flooded with posts and videos showing people queuing at petrol pumps to stock fuel as India and Pakistan began firing drones and missiles at each other.
“Indian Oil has ample fuel stocks across the country and our supply lines are operating smoothly,” IOC said in a post on X.
“There is no need for panic buying, fuel and LPG are readily available at all our outlets.”
Panic buying was mostly witnessed in states bordering Pakistan.
Several towns in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab enforced blackouts after Pakistan’s armed forces launched multiple attacks along the entire western border on the intervening night of May 8-9.
The Indian Army said the attacks were “effectively repulsed”.
These had led to a fear of escalation in tension and panic buying.
“Help us serve you better by staying calm and avoiding unnecessary rush. This will ensure uninterrupted fuel access for all,” IOC said.
BPCL said sufficient petrol, diesel, CNG, and LPG are available across its vast nationwide network.
“There is no cause for concern or panic buying… We urge all customers to remain calm,” it said.
HPCL said sufficient fuel and LPG stocks were available across the country.
“There is absolutely no need for panic buying. Fuel and LPG are readily available at all HPCL outlets.”
Meanwhile, Nayara Energy, in a statement, said its 4,05,000 barrel per day refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat continues to operate at full capacity.
“All our retail outlets are operating normally, and we are well stocked to meet fuel demand,” it added.
Indian Overseas Bank on Friday clarified that all its ATM networks were fully operational and dismissed rumours about their closure as “false” and “unfounded”.
The public sector bank made this announcement following reports on social media that ATMs are likely to be shut in the coming days in the backdrop of military conflict between India and Pakistan.
“We encourage our customers to continue using ATM services as usual and to rely only on verified communication channels for updates,” the bank said on Friday (9).
“Indian Overseas Bank assures the public that all our ATMs are fully operational. The rumors circulating about ATM closures are false and unfounded”, the bank said in a press release.
