'Fuel famine' continues for 2nd day in TN

Chennai, Jul 1: Petrol bunks across the city and suburbs witnessed panic buying for the second day with many retail outlets displaying 'out of stock' boards or fighting to cope with short supply.

The long queue of vehicles, especially two wheelers, which spilled on to the roads, led to traffic congestion on several stretches. Heated arguments were common at the bunks, where customers, taking the spree of panic-buying to a new high, turned up with large plastic containers and bottles. Police personnel were deployed at various petrol stations to regulate thousands of motorists, who thronged the outlets fearing acute fuel shortage in the city, reeling under limited fuel supplies for the past couple of days.

The likely impact of the indefinite lorry strike, called by the All India Motor Transport Congress from midnight tonight, has further increased the anxiety of the motorists.

Tamil Nadu Petroleum 8Dealers' Association President M Kannan said the long queues were due to limited quantity of fuel supplied by some of the public sector oil companies.

However, the oil companies have assured that the shortage was only temporary, caused by 'supply dislocation' and the situation would be normalised soon.

Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary held discussions with senior officials of the companies with regard to the sales position and the stock availability.

Officials of the companies were directed to take immediate steps to ensure that enough stock of petrol and diesel was available for sale.

Oil companies also informed that there would be an immediate action plan to control the shortage of fuel and restore normalcy.

UNI