BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 3rd May 2024: Residents of Agartala city have been facing an acute shortage of petrol and diesel since early Friday morning, leading to long queues at petrol pumps across the capital. The scarcity has been attributed to a disruption in rail services caused by heavy rainfall in the Sonarpur area of Assam’s Cachar district, which has affected the railway line and consequently the fuel supply to the state.
The situation has prompted fears of a fuel crisis among the public, with the state government’s Food Department stepping in to issue guidelines for fuel dispensation as a precautionary measure. These guidelines have led to regulated distribution at petrol pumps, causing motorists and bikers to flock to the stations in anticipation of a shortage, resulting in extended wait times.
A petrol pump manager in Agartala has assured that normalcy is expected to return within two days. Meanwhile, petrol pump owners have confirmed that rail services have resumed and a freight train carrying fuel is scheduled to arrive in Dharmanagar by Saturday. Subsequently, oil tankers will distribute petrol and diesel to various petrol pumps throughout the state. By Sunday, it is anticipated that the petrol pumps will be able to meet the demand for fuel without restrictions.
