The scene outside a petrol pump in Tajen Ao road. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 12
The effect of the civil unrest in Assam over the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill has provoked panic buying in Dimapur. On Thursday evening, fuel outlets witnessed a sudden surge in sales as people rushed to stock up on fuel. A fuel outlet in Duncan Basti said that following a quiet day, sale picked up in the evening as vehicles and people with jerry cans started lining up around 6:00pm. The rush at the outlet went well into night with sales exceeding 3 times that of a normal day in a space of 4-5 hours.
According to the manager, a normal day’s sale at his outlet ranges 1500-2000 litres. However, the rush in the evening tripled the sales for the day to over 6000 litres. He informed that his outlet has a stock capacity of 40,000 litres (20,000 litres of petrol and 20,000 litres of diesel) and estimated that whatever that remained would last till Friday evening or till Saturday if the rush continues.
He said that it has been three days since his outlet was topped up with two supply tankers stuck at Numaligarh unable to proceed to Dimapur. He though added that there was no need to panic as reserves should be available at the IOC depot.
Similar was the scene at another location near West Thana. The manager at the outlet, which opens 24 hours except on Sundays, narrated a similar story stating that the sale in the evening was more than that of the entire day’s sales. A normal day’s sale at his outlet averages 1000-1500 litres but today it jumped to 3000 litres of petrol and 1500 litres of diesel.
With a stock capacity of 44,000 litres, he said that the outlet has not been able to top up since the protests erupted in Assam. He commented, “At this rate, my stock would dry up by tomorrow (Friday) evening.” He informed that two supply tankers meant for his outlet was stuck midway between Numaligarh and Dimapur.
Meeting to assess supply situation
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur has convened a joint meeting on December 13 to assess the status of essential commodities in view of the prevailing law and order situation in Assam and neighbouring areas. DC Anoop Khinchi, in a circular, informed all petroleum dealers, all wholesale dealers of essential commodities and members of the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industries, to attend the meeting. The meeting will be held the DC’s Conference Hall from 10:3am.
