Following a day of chaos and panic buying among motorists at petrol pumps across Punjab and parts of Haryana, a sense of normalcy returned on Wednesday. Jalandhar’s Deputy Commissioner, Vishesh Saranghal, led by example in Nation by spearheading efforts to persuade truckers to call off their strike, marking a crucial step in restoring the supply of petrol and diesel in Punjab. This move acted as a catalyst, alleviating the chaos and quelling the frenzy of panic buying among the public.
The previous day had witnessed long queues of vehicles at various fuel stations across Punjab and parts of Haryana, driven by fears of imminent fuel shortages amid the truckers’ strike protesting stricter penalties outlined in the new legislation for hit-and-run cases.
However, by Wednesday, the situation began to normalize as petrol pumps received fresh stocks, significantly reducing the earlier scenes of panic buying. The Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association’s Secretary General, Rajesh Kumar, confirmed the return to normalcy, noting the absence of lengthy queues at petrol pumps in the state.
Efforts at the local level by district administrations played a pivotal role in restoring order, with proactive measures effectively contributing to the resumption of regular fuel supplies.
The Union Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla, assured consultations with the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) before implementing the contentious provisions related to hit-and-run cases, which had triggered protests among truckers.
In contrast to the previous day’s rush, Haryana witnessed a more composed atmosphere at petrol pumps, devoid of long queues, indicating a shift away from panic buying in areas like Panchkula and Ambala.
Even in Chandigarh, where fuel rationing was imposed until normalcy was restored, authorities reported the resumption of regular fuel supplies, bringing relief to the city’s motorists.
The Punjab government, on Tuesday, had urged the public to refrain from panic buying, assuring the availability of ample fuel stocks despite the ongoing concerns over the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita’s stringent penalties for hit-and-run accidents.
