Nationwide Truckers’ Strike Sparks Fuel Shortages in Various Regions
A nationwide strike by truck drivers, protesting a contentious provision in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita—the replacement for the Indian Penal Code—has triggered fuel shortages in several areas across India. Due to the strike, petrol pumps in hill stations, remote regions, and smaller towns are grappling with depleted stocks or imminent dry-outs. The provision under scrutiny mandates severe penalties, including up to 10 years’ imprisonment for drivers involved in hit-and-run cases. Drivers express concerns about facing harsh consequences, leading to their reluctance to operate tankers, causing disruptions in fuel supplies.
While major cities like Mumbai and New Delhi maintain fuel availability, hinterlands, and smaller towns witness dwindling supplies. Oil tankers, pivotal for fuel transportation, remain stranded as drivers refuse to ply roads in protest or fear retaliation from demonstrators. This impasse has caused pumps in regions like Thane, Ulhasnagar, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh to run dry or experience severe shortages. The situation escalates further with reports of panic buying exacerbating the crisis.
Despite anticipatory measures taken by some dealers to stockpile fuel, concerns loom over the sustainability of supplies. Efforts from oil marketing companies and authorities remain awaited, while queries sent to major state-run oil refiners and the petroleum ministry await responses. The strike’s impact reverberates across regions, highlighting the gravity of the issue and the urgent need for resolution amidst mounting fuel scarcity.
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