‘Fuel stocks sufficient in T.N.’: CM Stalin urges calm as motorists crowd outlets

CM Stalin assures Tamil Nadu residents of sufficient fuel stocks, urging calm amid rising demand and panic buying at outlets.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday (March 12, 2026) urged people not to panic about the availability of fuel and cooking gas, saying the Centre has reiterated that the country has sufficient stock.

In a statement here, he said that the State government would stand by the efforts of the Union government in view of the West Asia conflict.

Retail fuel outlets across the city, as well as in other cities and towns in the State, have been witnessing a sudden spike in customer volume since Wednesday (March 11) afternoon. Some petrol bunks even ran dry in Chennai, with queues extending to as many as 40 cars, over 150 two-wheelers, and 20 to 30 autorickshaws.

#WestAsiaConflict: Motorists in #Chennai throng a fuel outlet at #Velachery on Wednesday night anticipating a fall in supply of #petrol and #diesel. #IranIsraelWar📹: R. Ravindran / The Hindu pic.twitter.com/hFYEIZi1jH

Oil industry sources said that on Wednesday alone, diesel sales volume rose by 17% and petrol sales by 32%. “There is no need to panic. Everyone wants to fill up their tanks to capacity. There are enough stocks of crude oil, and more supplies are on the way,” a source said.

Hariharan, who owns a two-wheeler, said he too filled his tank to the brim as he was unsure when he would be able to get fuel, given the crowds at fuel outlets.