Bhubaneswar: Filling stations across the State are likely to run dry by Sunday afternoon due to nation-wide drivers’ strike that impacted the public transportation system.
Petrol pumps in several parts of the State were seen with the rush of people fearing fuel shortage. Many filling stations found it difficult to handle the mad rush of consumers since yesterday.
Due to the panic buying, the petrol and diesel sales increased by 20 percent on Friday, said Utkal Petroleum Dealers’ Association General Secretary, Sanjay Lath.
“The transportation of diesel and petrol has been affected due to the strike by drivers. Odsha witnessed 20% more sales of fuel due to panic buying on Friday. The loading has been reduced by 75% due to the agitation. Only 25% of vehicles were loaded with fuel on Friday. The loading process has been completely disrupted at Paradip depot while a handful of vehicles have been loaded at Jatani and Balasore depots,” Lath added.
“If the situation persists, fuel tanks across Odisha will run dry by tomorrow afternoon,” he feared.
Lath has appealed to consumers to refrain from panic buying.
Notably, drivers across the nation called for a strike protesting against Centre’s new hit-run-law. In Odisha, drivers under the banner of Odisha driver Mahasangh also joined the country-wide agitation, bringing public transportation into disarray.
