Telangana's Minister for Civil Supplies N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday, 29 April clarified that adequate fuel stocks are available across the state and appealed to citizens not to panic or act on rumours. The assurance comes as a surge in panic buying has pushed daily petrol and diesel distribution to record levels, with a combined 36,404 kilolitres being supplied statewide — 175 per cent above the normal daily average.

Key Developments in Fuel Supply

As of 29 April, daily diesel distribution across Telangana has surged 210 per cent, rising from a daily average of 7,348 kilolitres to 22,782 kilolitres. Petrol distribution has climbed 132 per cent, from 5,883 kilolitres to 13,622 kilolitres. Oil Marketing Companies have been directed to operate round the clock in multiple shifts to sustain supply. A total of 3,817 tankers have been dispatched across Telangana's 4,536 fuel outlets operated by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Nayara, and Jio-bp.

What Triggered the Shortage Scare

According to the Civil Supplies Department, the crisis was initially triggered by dry-outs at retail outlets in Andhra Pradesh, which spilled over into border districts including Khammam, Miryalaguda, and Nirmal district bordering Maharashtra. Extensive media coverage then fuelled panic buying that rapidly spread to all districts, including Hyderabad.

Compounding the problem, the revision of Industrial and Commercial high-speed diesel prices to ₹150 per litre (effective 16 April 2026), against the retail price of ₹95 per litre, reportedly prompted industrial and commercial consumers to divert purchases to retail outlets, straining supply. Oil Marketing Companies are said to have curtailed petrol and diesel supply by 5–10 per cent last week to compensate, worsening shortages at the pump.

Rumours of an impending price hike after the West Bengal elections further stoked overstocking and hoarding behaviour, according to officials.

Government Response and Control Measures

Minister Reddy said a special control room has been activated, with the toll-free number 1967 available for public complaints. Vigilance squads have been deployed at inter-state border check posts to prevent vehicles from neighbouring states from bulk-filling fuel in Telangana. District-level monitoring is being conducted by a dedicated committee under the supervision of each District Collector. Special attention is being paid to ensuring diesel supply for agricultural use, he added.

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy separately reassured citizens that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or domestic LPG in Telangana. He urged the public, media, and political leaders to refrain from spreading unverified information. Following a review meeting with Oil Marketing Companies, he noted that average daily petrol supply in Telangana has risen from approximately 6,400 kilolitres to 10,300 kilolitres, while petrol supply in Hyderabad alone has doubled from 3,200 kilolitres to nearly 6,400 kilolitres.

Situation on the Ground

Diesel supply in Telangana has risen from around 8,000 kilolitres to approximately 15,500–19,300 kilolitres daily, while Hyderabad's diesel supply has increased from 2,700 kilolitres to nearly 5,060 kilolitres. Out of approximately 4,325 fuel outlets in Telangana, only about 106 outlets reported temporary stock issues on Wednesday morning. Officials described these disruptions as transient, with most outlets expected to be replenished by evening through prioritised dispatches and resolution of payment and logistics bottlenecks.

With supply lines now significantly reinforced and administrative oversight intensified, authorities expect the situation to normalise in the coming days — provided panic buying subsides.