Transporters’ Strike: Chaotic scenes at fuel stations across Kashmir, Admin says no need to panic

Enough stock of petrol, Kerosene, LPG, other essentials in Valley: Div Com Kashmir/Jammu

Rehan Qayoom Mir

Srinagar, Jan 02 (KNO): Despite the government claiming availability of sufficient stock, the chaotic situation was witnessed on Tuesday as the fuel stations witnessed a huge rush of commuters, queuing up to get the fuel.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a large number of commuters were seen waiting to get the petrol at the fuel stations as the people have apprehensions that the truckers’ strike would hit the fuel supply in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports have been received from almost all the districts of J&K where people have been seen carrying cans and bottles to get the petrol from refilling stations. The long queues continued till late afternoon while maximum of the fuel station owners proffered to close down their stations in wake of the huge rush.

Such a chaotic situation has been witnessed at a time when the government has claimed to have adequate stock of essential supplies available in the Valley.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bhiduri urged people not to create panic by rushing to petrol pumps with vehicles and bottles stating that there was enough stock of petrol, Diesel, kerosene and LPG in the Valley for almost a month.

Talking to KNO, exclusively, Bidhuri said that people thronging the petrol pumps with vehicles and bottles for petrol will lead to panic as there was no dearth of petrol, Diesel, kerosene and LPG. “We have enough stock of essentials in Kashmir including petrol and LPG for almost a month,” Bidhuri said.

He said that people shouldn’t panic and instead stay calm. “Transporter’s strike is not going to affect Kashmir. Parleys are on with the Transporters. Kashmir’s divisional administration is committed to ensure the people shouldn’t face any shortage of essentials including petrol, Diesel and LPG during winter,” the Divisional Commissioner said.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, while talking to KNO also stated that there was no need to panic as an adequate stock of essentials is available in the region.

“Adequate stock of essentials is available and the people should not panic,” he said.

Pertinently, the transporters in many states have called strike to protest against what they termed as stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which mentions that a driver 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 Rs 7 lakh—(KNO)