Malkangiri, Mar 7: Amid rumours circulating on social media about a possible shortage of petrol and diesel, the Petrol Pump workers of Malkangiri has urged citizens not to panic as they have now clarified the situation.

Malkangiri district has been witnessing a temporary shortage of petrol and diesel for the few days, sparking widespread concern among residents. Reports of empty pumps quickly spread across local media, with some outlets even suggesting that the scarcity was linked to war-related disruptions. However, pump employees have now clarified the situation, dismissing such claims as baseless rumors.

According to fuel station staff, the shortage was caused by a three-day halt in fuel transportation due to the Holi festival and consecutive holidays. During this period, tankers carrying petrol and diesel were unable to load and dispatch supplies to Malkangiri.

As a result, most pumps in the district ran dry, leading to long queues and frustration among vehicle owners.

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Employees emphasized that the issue was purely logistical and temporary. They urged the public not to believe misleading reports that linked the shortage to larger geopolitical tensions. “This is not a crisis. It is simply a delay due to holidays. Supplies will resume shortly,” one pump worker explained.

Authorities and pump staff have assured residents that fuel distribution will normalise soon, and urged everyone to stay away from unfounded speculation.