A wave of pan ic swept across Goa on Wednesday as rumours of an impending fuel shortage triggered chaotic scenes at petrol pumps statewide. Serpentine queues of ve hicles could be seen from early morning despite re peated government assur ances that stocks remain adequate. From Margao to Mapusa and Panjim to Ponda, anx ious motorists flooded fuel stations through the night and into the day, driven by unverified claims circulat ing rapidly via word-of mouth and social media. The sudden surge in de mand choked access roads, disrupted traffic flow, and created an atmosphere of urgency that far out weighed the reality on the ground. In Margao, queues began building up late Tuesday night and only intensified by dawn, with two-wheel ers and cars lining up for extended periods. The rush soon spread, with fuel sta tions near Ponda bus stand, upper bazaar and Tisk wit nessing heavy congestion well into the evening, as residents scrambled to top up tanks fearing supply disruption. Scenes were no different in Caranzalem, where long lines of vehicles spilled onto main roads, compounding commuter inconvenience.
At several locations, peo ple were seen carrying cans and containers in a bid to stockpile fuel, ampli fying fears of an artificial shortage. Many residents admitted they were reacting to hear say rather than confirmed information. “I came be cause everyone said petrol might run out. But after reaching here, we realised it was just rumours,” said a motorist waiting in line, reflecting a sentiment echoed across multiple locations. Fuel dealers, however, categorically dismissed the panic as baseless. Deepak, owner of a petrol pump in Colva, urged the public not to succumb to misinformation.
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“There is absolutely no shortage of petrol, and there is no hike in prices. We have sufficient stock to meet the de mand,” he said. He attributed the chaos entirely to rumour-driven behav iour. “People are getting worried because of false informa tion being circulated. There is no need to panic or indulge in unnecessary rush. Fuel supply is normal, and stocks are adequate,” Deepak added. Despite these assurances, the frenzy persisted through the day, underscoring the disconnect between official mes saging and public perception. Dealers warned that such panic-driven buying risks creating the very shortage peo ple fear, placing avoidable stress on otherwise stable sup ply chains. Compounding public anxiety is the existing LPG shortage in the State in the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia crisis, factors that appear to have heightened sensitivity to any hint of disruption in essential supplies. Tourists, too, were caught in the uncertainty. One visitor recounted being forced to search for multiple fuel stations after finding one shut, only to encounter long queues else where. He also pointed out that rising demand was begin ning to affect overall expenses, including food costs at local establishments.
Amid the growing unease, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stepped in to calm fears, reiterating that there is no short age of petrol in Goa. Speaking at Mantralaya, he appealed to the public to avoid panic-driven behaviour. “People should not panic or indulge in hoarding. Petrol is available, and there is no need to rush to pumps. There is no shortage of petrol in Goa at all. There is sufficient stock. The issue will be resolved within eight days,” Sawant said. He added that the Secretary of Civil Supplies is closely monitoring the situation and that the state government re mains in constant touch with the Centre to ensure uninter rupted supply. Authorities are now expected to keep a close watch to prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure smooth distribution.
