Chennai, March 12 (NationPress) A surge in panic buying, spurred by rumors of an imminent fuel shortage, resulted in numerous petrol bunks exhausting their stock across the delta districts of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

In districts such as Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai, fuel stations experienced an extraordinary influx of motorists, particularly in the morning, as individuals rushed to refuel their vehicles amid fears of supply interruptions.

Operators of petrol bunks stated that the unexpected increase in demand was predominantly fueled by unverified social media posts suggesting that fuel supplies might soon dwindle due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia.

These posts, often featuring images of extensive queues at petrol stations in Chennai and other large cities, incited anxiety among drivers in the delta area, driving them to nearby fuel stations.

While petrol supplies rapidly diminished at many urban outlets, operators noted that some diesel remained accessible.

According to them, many commercial vehicle operators reliant on diesel had already secured adequate fuel earlier in the week.

One petrol bunk operator mentioned that several private diesel commercial vehicle service providers had stockpiled enough diesel to sustain their operations for approximately a week, which alleviated the immediate demand for diesel at retail outlets.

Interestingly, the number of autorickshaws at petrol bunks was relatively low, despite the heavy rush of two-wheelers and cars.

Operators indicated that many regular customers, including some auto drivers and small commercial operators, had been preemptively contacted and supplied with fuel in advance.

In some instances, fuel was reportedly given to loyal customers in plastic containers after their vehicle tanks were filled to ensure they had enough supply for their daily activities.

Private service providers such as earthmover operators, harvest contractors, tour operators, and packers and movers typically maintain emergency fuel reserves by purchasing petrol or diesel in plastic containers and drums whenever supply uncertainties arise.

Although panic buying was widespread in urban areas of the delta districts, some rural locations, like Thiruthuraipoondi and Vedaranyam, exhibited a relatively calm situation where fuel sales proceeded without atypical crowds.

However, a few petrol bunks near the pilgrimage town of Velankanni were reported to have temporarily run out of petrol due to a sudden increase in demand.