No Oil Supply Disruption in India, Government Clarifies

Amid growing rumours of fuel shortages and rationing across India, the government has assured citizens that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, LPG, or LNG in the country. Long queues were seen at petrol pumps in several cities as panic buying spread on social media, with many people rushing to fill their vehicles fearing supply disruptions. In response, the Petroleum Ministry clarified that India has sufficient fuel reserves and that the supply chain remains stable. Officials stated that there is no possibility of any “dryout” situation and emphasized that additional fuel imports are also being arranged to maintain uninterrupted supply. The ministry appealed to the public not to panic or engage in unnecessary fuel stocking. According to the government, the sudden rise in demand in certain regions was mainly caused by rumours rather than an actual shortage. At the same time, citizens faced another blow as fuel prices increased sharply on May 15. Petrol and diesel prices were raised by ₹3 per litre, while CNG prices also went up by ₹2 per kilogram in Delhi and other NCR cities including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram. In Mumbai, CNG prices were similarly increased from ₹82 to ₹84 per kg. The new CNG prices came into effect from May 14. The price hike triggered political criticism from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused the Modi government of burdening ordinary citizens with rising fuel costs. Referring to the increase, Rahul Gandhi posted on social media that the “₹3 shock” had already been delivered and warned that further financial burden on the public could continue in the future. The opposition has linked the price hike to global tensions and the impact of the Gulf region situation on oil markets. Despite rising fuel costs, the government continues to insist that India’s energy supply remains secure and that there is no reason for panic among citizens.