Truck drivers' protest triggers panic buying of petrol in Maharashtra, Punjab

Mumbai: Long queues been formed at petrol pumps in Maharashtra and Punjab following a protest by truck drivers triggering panic buying over fears of fuel stations running dry.

Two-wheelers and four-wheelers riders waited for their tune in snaky queues in Nagpur, Thane, Jalgaon, and Dhulia as vendors now considering to put up "No Petrol" sign.

Truck drivers protest against the provision in the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) on hit-and-run cases.

Under the new law that replaced the colonial era penal code drivers, who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police, can get punishment of up to 10 years or a fine of ₹ 7 lakh, according to NDTV.

In Nashik on Monday, tanker drivers reportedly stopped work, parking more than 1,000 vehicles in Panewadi village, a major hub of fuel depots.

Footage showed long queues at petrol pumps in Punjab's Amritsar and Patiala as truckers continue protests.

Petrol pumps in Nagpur district have already run out of stock with managers beginning to consider putting up ‘ No petrol’ signs.

At least three petrol pumps in Thane were shut down due to shortage of fuel.

Nashik District Petrol Dealers Association warned that fuel stations in Nashik district would go dry if the agitation were to continue, news agency PTI reported.

‘Petrol was supplied to 150 petrol pumps in Mumbai last night. However, due to panic buying people are buying more petrol than what is required, making it difficult to maintain the stock of petrol. It will be difficult if there is no supply of petrol in the coming days,’ Keyur Parikh, Mumbai's Petrol Pump Association dealer was quoted as saying.

Petrol pump dealers in the Marathwada region said in the event of the situation not normalising by Tuesday, fuel pumps in the district may go dry, PTI reported.