Dimapur saw a sudden rush at several fuel retail outlets on April 20, with at least two to three stations in the municipal area running out of petrol by evening, prompting long queues at other pumps and concern among motorists and nearby businesses. The unexplained surge-described by witnesses as panic buying-kept vehicles lined up at stations throughout the day and into the night, with lines still visible around 8:00–9:00 pm at two Bharat Petroleum outlets near the West Police Station and the Clock Tower.
The spillover effect forced motorists to move between stations in search of fuel, aggravating congestion and leaving some attendants unable to meet demand. An attendant at an Indian Oil outlet that exhausted its supply told this reporter, “Our stock has run out today. It will be replenished and will be available tomorrow.” A Jio-BP attendant gave a similar timeline, saying fresh deliveries were expected from the refinery by Tuesday morning, April 21.
The district administration investigated the reports. Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Dr. Tinojongshi Chang said his office contacted the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) depot in Dimapur-IOC being the largest petroleum player in Nagaland-and were informed that sufficient stock was available. The DC appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid panic buying.
Readers should note an internal date inconsistency in the published material: the story’s dateline is April 20, while an accompanying caption and attendant remarks refer to April 21 for replenishment. (April 20, 2026 is Monday; April 21, 2026 is Tuesday.) The administration’s request for restraint aims to prevent further shortages and disruption to daily life while normal supply operations continue.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/nagaland-unexplained-fuel-panic-buying-causes-queues
Category: Nagaland
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-20 22:52:00
