Nagpur: Panic buying due to the fear among consumers that the truck drivers’ strike may continue longer, left a number of petrol pumps in Nagpur dry on Tuesday. Officials in the oil marketing companies said the pumps had topped up their storage tanks before the start of the month, but hectic buying by consumers led to the crisis.
The city and district grappled with escalating tension as the truck association and other transporters persisted in their nationwide strike, owing to the amendment to the new hit-and-run law passed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which led to road blockades and tire-burning protests.
Two separate offences have been registered against 45 persons in connection with these disruptions. Police successfully thwarted an attempt to block National Highway No 6 at Tarsa in Mauda tehsil after dispersing the agitating mob on Tuesday.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Harssh Poddar stated that Rural Police quickly responded by providing armed police escorts for fuel tankers across district. “With 3 fuel depots catering to Nagpur City, Nagpur district, and Wardha district, the risk of potential targeting necessitates armed guards accompanying the tankers,” he claimed.
The supply from depots at Khapri was affected due to the blockade, due to which the pumps could not be replenished. Till Tuesday evening, pumps were seen with either no-stock board or heavy rush of commuters. The demand was mainly for petrol. There was enough stock at the depots but tanker operators had stopped working.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar said the police were on priority ensuring free movement of essential commodities, ambulances, fuel tankers. “The petrol pumps are under watch. Tanker movement is being facilitated,” said the CP.
SP Nagpur rural Harssh A Poddar said the strike was called off at one of the depots in the districts after his team convinced the truckers and transporters to agree to a truce.
Two offences each were registered by rural and city police against the protesters, arson near Pachgaon in Kuhi, and agitation near Kalmeshwar leading to highway blockade.
SP Poddar said movement on highways was relatively smoother on Tuesday as compared to a day earlier.
