Long queues seen at fuel pumps in Madhya Pradesh districts; Minister denies shortage

Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Govind Singh Rajput on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) said that there was no shortage of petrol and diesel in the State, a day after long queues were seen at fuel pumps in various parts of the State, including Indore.

Several videos surfaced online on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) showing long vehicle queues in various districts like Indore, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Shajapur and Jhabua with local reports claiming that people had turned up to get their fuel tanks full fearing a shortage of petrol and diesel amid the ongoing war in West Asia. 

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Mr. Rajput Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection said that the queues and panic buying were a result of rumours while claiming that petrol and diesel are available in “ample quantities”.

“Instances of long queues forming at petrol pumps in certain districts of the state—driven by rumours circulating among the general public—and subsequent panic buying of petrol by consumers came to notice,” Mr. Rajput said in a statement. 

“There is absolutely no shortage of petrol and diesel stocks at the petrol pumps; both petrol and diesel are available in ample quantities. Furthermore, supplies are being continuously dispatched from the depots to the petrol pumps. There is no need to be misled by any kind of rumours,” he said, asking people to not engage in panic buying and hoarding. 

Mr. Rajput said that the oil companies have informed the government of adequate stocks of fuel and that the situation is being monitored regularly. 

“And currently, there is no increase in the prices of either fuel. The situation is being closely monitored through continuous oversight by the State-level control room and the administration,” he added. 

The Congress, however, hit out at the BJP government alleging that it was misleading the public. 

“There are queues of trust at petrol pumps in Indore! The Mohan and Modi governments are lost in their self-obsession, and the public is tormented!” the Congress said in an X post sharing videos of queues. 

State Congress president Jitu Patwari said, “In four days, petrol pumps will start closing and there will be lines there. Even then [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi ji and his party will say there is no shortage of petrol and diesel.”