Hyderabad, January 2, 2024 – Petrol pumps in Hyderabad, as well as in several other cities across the country, are facing severe shortages, triggering long queues of motorists anxiously attempting to fill their vehicle tanks. This surge in demand is a consequence of ongoing protests by truck drivers against a provision in the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaces the colonial-era Indian Penal Code. The new law stipulates strict penalties for hit-and-run accidents, including up to 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of Rs 7 lakh for drivers who cause serious accidents due to negligence and flee the scene without reporting to the police or administration officials.
In Hyderabad, petrol pumps have already run dry, prominently displaying ‘No Petrol’ boards, leaving commuters stranded and concerned about the potential escalation of the fuel shortage. The impact is not limited to Hyderabad alone; Mumbai and Nagpur are also witnessing extensive queues at petrol stations, as people rush to secure fuel amidst the truck drivers’ protests.
Chetan Modi, President of the Petrol Dealers Association in Mumbai, reported disruptions in fuel supply to petrol pumps due to the ongoing agitation by truck drivers. He warned that if the supply chain issues persist, a majority of pumps would exhaust their fuel reserves soon.
Simultaneously, Jammu and Kashmir are experiencing fuel shortages, with massive queues forming at fuel stations. The truckers’ strike against the stricter penalties outlined in the new law has triggered panic buying, resulting in 90 percent of petrol pumps going dry in Jammu. The J-K fuel station owners’ association predicts that all remaining stocks will deplete in the next few hours as approximately 1,500 tankers carrying fuel to the Union territory and Ladakh remain on strike.
Rumors are circulating that if the truck drivers’ protests persist, a significant number of petrol pumps across the country may face shortages. In Nagpur, panic buying ensued as truck drivers’ protests continued, leading to a surge in people queuing up at petrol pumps since Monday night.
As the strike by some truckers’ associations enters its second day, approximately 2,000 petrol pumps, primarily in western and northern India, have already run out of fuel stocks, intensifying concerns about the potential widespread impact of the ongoing protests on fuel availability.
