Truckers' protest | Fuel pumps in Punjab see panic buying over fears of stocks running out

Truckers in Punjab & Haryana protest new law on hit-and-run cases, causing panic-buying of fuel & other goods.

Motorists queued up at fuel stations at many places in Punjab and Haryana on January 2 over fears that stocks would run dry soon with truckers keeping off the roads to protest stricter punishments in the new law on hit-and-run cases.

In Haryana, private bus operators and some auto-rickshaw unions have also joined the protest against the new provision and some petrol pumps in Ambala reported a shortage of fuel. Chandigarh, the common capital of the twin States, too saw vehicle owners panic-buying fuel.

Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which is set to replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause serious road accidents due to negligent driving and run away without informing police or the administration face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of ₹7 lakh.

Truckers in several States launched a three-day protest against the "stringent provision" on Monday. The situation in Punjab on the second day of the agitation prompted the petroleum dealers association to shoot off a letter to the government over the "panic buying" situation in fuel stations affecting stock supplies.

Secretary general of the Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association Rajesh Kumar said there are nearly 4,000 petrol pumps in the State and fuel supply has been affected due to the agitation since Monday.

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"As the news spread that truck drivers were holding protests and have gone on strike, people rushed to fuel stations... We are also not getting replenishment of stocks due to the strike... As these drivers are holding protests, they are also not allowing oil tankers to enter depots to get fuel stocks," he alleged.