Surat Sees Chaos at Fuel Stations as Nayara Pumps Stay Shut, Triggering Panic Buying

Surat | Gujarat —Even as the Gujarat government repeatedly assures that there is no shortage of petrol and diesel, residents in Surat continue to face long, frustrating queues at fuel stations, with several Nayara-operated petrol pumps remaining inexplicably shut across key areas of the city.

Scenes of chaos unfolded on Tuesday morning, particularly in the Jahangirpura area, where three to four Nayara petrol pumps remained closed without any clear explanation from operators. Motorists were left stranded, many forced to return without refuelling their vehicles, further intensifying anxiety among citizens.

The situation was no better on the Olpad-Ichhapore state highway, where Nayara outlets were also found shut. As a result, operational petrol pumps belonging to other companies witnessed an overwhelming surge in demand. At several IOCL and HPCL stations, vehicles lined up in serpentine queues stretching for long distances, with people waiting for hours to fill their tanks.

“I have been standing here for over an hour, and the queue is barely moving. If there is no shortage, why are pumps shut?” questioned a frustrated commuter waiting at a fuel station.

The sudden closure of Nayara pumps has raised serious concerns among residents, especially as authorities continue to dismiss any talk of fuel scarcity as mere rumours.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Mona Khandhar, reiterated that Gujarat has sufficient stock of petrol and diesel. “Citizens need not panic or form long queues. The state maintains an adequate buffer stock, and fuel is available as per requirement,” she said, urging people to ignore misinformation circulating on social media.

She further warned that strict legal action would be taken against any petrol pump dealer found deliberately shutting operations despite having adequate stock. “Any attempt to create artificial shortage or inconvenience the public will not be tolerated,” she added.

Backing the government’s stance, Sanjib Behera, State Nodal Officer and Executive Director of Indian Oil Corporation, assured that all depots and terminals across Gujarat are well-stocked. “There is no disruption in supply. Citizens should not indulge in panic buying,” he stated.

The Petroleum Dealers Association of India also stepped in to calm nerves, stating that oil companies have increased stock availability and extended supply hours to meet rising demand. “There is absolutely no fuel shortage in Gujarat, nor is any expected. People should not rush to petrol pumps based on rumours,” said the association president.

Despite these assurances, the ground reality in Surat tells a different story. With Nayara pumps remaining shut and no clarity on their reopening, panic continues to grip motorists, turning routine refuelling into a time-consuming ordeal.

Unless the situation stabilises soon and clarity emerges regarding the shutdown of Nayara outlets, Surat’s fuel crisis—real or perceived—may continue to disrupt daily life in the city.