Commuters in Belagavi resort to panic buying of petrol amid social media rumours

Messages on social media platforms that petrol pumps will not work for two days starting Tuesday (March 24, 2026), led to panic buying of fuel across Belagavi city and surrounding areas.

As rumours began spreading from Monday (March 23) night, long queues of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, were seen in front of petrol stations.

In a few hours, several stations closed shutters or put up signs of ‘No Stock’.

The lines did not seem to shorten even on March 24 morning. While some petrol pumps in Tilakwadi did not open at all, some on Rupali talkies cross, Azam Nagar and Gandhi Nagar displayed ‘No Stock’ boards

Commuters flocked to petrol pumps in Belagavi city following a social media scare that pumps would be closed for two days.
| Photo Credit:
BADIGER PK

Even as commuters began driving from one station to another in search of petrol, some residents who live in border villages like Hindalga or Jamboti began driving to Goa to get their tanks filled.

Meanwhile, a few PSU oil companies like HPCL issued clarifications saying there was no fuel shortage. A social media post from HPCL said that fuel supply was normal and storage was adequate and that there was no cause for worry.