Petrol pumps in cities, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, witnessed heavy rush, with many people waiting for hours to refuel their vehicles.
The sudden spike in demand reportedly forced several fuel stations to impose temporary restrictions on fuel sales. Two-wheeler riders at some outlets were allegedly allowed petrol worth only Rs 200, while limits were also placed on four-wheelers, per a report by Economic Times.
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Panic buying leads to a fuel rush
The situation intensified after concerns spread over a possible shortage of petrol and diesel in the state. Many residents rushed to fuel stations carrying cans, drums, and containers to stock up on fuel.
Several stations reportedly struggled to manage the crowd as queues stretched across roads, causing traffic congestion in some areas. Police personnel were deployed at a few fuel pumps in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to control the situation.
Fuel dealers said panic-driven purchases sharply increased demand in a short span of time. Reports suggested fuel sales in Odisha rose by nearly 50 per cent over the past few days because of panic buying.
Panic buying was witnessed across Bhubaneswar as residents queued up in large numbers outside petrol pumps amid fears of a possible fuel shortage.#TheSentinel #Petrol #Bhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/eFS05cXb4D
” The Sentinel (@Sentinel_Assam) May 16, 2026
Fuel sale restrictions imposed
To manage supplies and reduce overcrowding, some petrol pumps capped fuel purchases. Reports claimed two-wheelers were being given only Rs 200 worth of petrol, while four-wheelers were limited to Rs 1,000 at certain outlets.
Workers at fuel stations said the unusually long queues slowed down regular operations. One worker said refuelling, which normally takes a few minutes, was now taking much longer because of the rush and arguments over rationing.
In some areas, fuel stations temporarily ran out of stock after demand surged unexpectedly. Barricades were also placed outside a few outlets after supplies were exhausted.
Yesterday one of the staff of IOCL petrol pump near Chandaka, Bhubaneswar forced the two wheeler customers to fill up petrol of only Rs. 200.00 without any Central Government or Odisha Government guidelines. @IOCL_ODISHA @CMO_Odisha pic.twitter.com/l5ginYedCX
” ¤® ¤¨ Â¥ ¤ª¶ (@flirtyMinut) May 16, 2026
Government says there is no shortage
The Odisha government urged people not to panic and maintained that the state has enough fuel reserves. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said Odisha had sufficient stock to last for nearly 13 days.
“The situation was due to panic buying by some people, who continued to purchase more fuel than they required… Because of this, the demand has suddenly spiked by nearly 50%,” Patra said, as per The Economic Times.
Indian Oil Corporation officials also appealed to people to avoid hoarding and assured that adequate petrol and diesel stocks were available in the state.
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Transport and gig workers affected
The rush at fuel stations also disrupted transport services and daily work routines. Private bus operators claimed nearly 2,000 buses had stopped operating in some regions due to fuel availability concerns in rural areas.
Gig workers and delivery executives were among the worst affected as long waits at petrol pumps reduced their working hours and earnings.
