Tripura: Agartala Faces Long Fuel Queues as Panic Buying Surges After Price Hike

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]Long queues are being witnessed outside several fuel stations across Agartala as motorists resorted to panic buying following the fuel price hike. Growing public concern over supply disruptions is leading to panic buying in the [music] Tripura capital. Hundreds of vehicle owners rushed to petrol pumps in different parts of the city leading to traffic congestion and overcrowding at multiple filling stations. [music] Many consumers were seen purchasing fuel in extra quantities amidst fears of a possible shortage. The rush came despite repeated assurances from the state government and oil supply authorities that there is no fuel crisis in Tripura [music] at present.

[00:01:48]Since I was been staying here for more than an hour here and it is very difficult for common men to stand like this. It is a really hectic time for everyone.

[00:01:58]But I see here everyone is cooperating and just getting online and getting their fuel, that's all. But it's very difficult for us to stand online in the hot sun for more than an hour.

[00:02:10]It's very difficult.

[00:02:15]All right, my colleague Pinaki Das joins us live from Agartala for all the latest on this. So, uh Pinaki, you know, what exactly is happening? Because on one hand, the Chief Minister has clearly clearly stated that there is no shortage and they are not not expecting any sort of supply disruption anytime soon. And at the same time, fuel prices have also been hiked across the country. But despite that, we're witnessing panic buying across several parts of Agartala.

[00:02:40]Why is this happening? Are people not actually understanding what the Chief Minister is trying to say?

[00:02:47]See, uh this is this is what they they have learned from their experience.

[00:02:53]Uh Ronak, we have seen Tripura being a far-flung state surrounded by Bangladesh and with the hilly roads, particularly in the in the rainy season.

[00:03:04]Uh or or now it's already um pre-monsoon season is already started over here. And uh people do understand that the situation, the global crisis that is going on, ultimate uh there's every possibility situation of crisis in fuel may arise.

[00:03:23]Uh Tripura is dependent on the connectivity from Guwahati uh and Silchar. The uh the fuel enters the state through vehicles and and railways, also.

[00:03:36]Every year, this is a annual uh practice we have seen uh that when fuel crisis will have to really suffer. So, uh this the people what I understand, they there will be a fuel price high and also a crisis that is in their mind already. So, out of fear and panic, they have started because The Chief Minister not only the Chief Minister, the food minister also assured that officials have repeatedly said this. But, common people, this is the the common people that whatever we have, unless fill it with the possible fuel which is available now.

[00:04:29]The Chief Minister said as of now and we have seen IOC despite repeatedly saying that they are increasing the stock in the state, they till now could not fulfill that because a big area is being developed for that stocking of fuel in in close to Agartala.

[00:04:53]So, once that come, then people will have more confidence because every year people in Tripura face this issue and out of that fear, whatever the leaders, the Chief Minister say, but people are dependent and in Tripura and Agartala, we don't have much of the bus services or the public transport system that we.

[00:05:17]So, people are more and and people are more dependent on bikes and and and large number of four-wheelers in in and every month is growing. So, in such a situation, they are dependent on petrol despite CNG and also the EVs are there coming gradually, but more most of them are dependent on petrol.

[00:05:41]So, out of that fear, this is the public senti- public are are so they have I have already started stocking the fuel at least in their own vehicle to the government has stopped giving fuel diesel whatever in in in jerrycans and other bottles whatever that has been stopped but they there is no limit in they can fill it in their own vehicle in their own tankers of their vehicle that that limit has not been started there is no that way any crisis as of now but people out of fear must have started stocking that. Right. Right. Pinaki Das, thank you very much for all those details and do keep us updated on all further developments.

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