Tripura’s Fuel Crisis Day 3: Petrol Pumps Run Dry, People Fume and Turn to Black Market to Fill Vehicle Tanks

Fuel station managers have reassured the public that the crisis is temporary and that the situation is expected to stabilize in a few days

Long queues of vehicles were seen outside petrol stations in Agartala today as Tripura continues to grapple with a severe fuel shortage, caused by disruptions in rail connectivity in Assam. The shortage, which has persisted for the past two days, has led to fuel rationing measures by the government, severely disrupting daily life in the state.

Frustrated residents have voiced concerns about the growing inconvenience, with many complaining that the prolonged wait for fuel is disrupting their work schedules and personal routines. Several petrol stations in the city had to put up signs reading “No Petrol,” prompting motorists to search for stations still with fuel in stock. This has led to increasing desperation among citizens.

In the absence of fuel at regular stations, many have turned to the black market, where petrol is being sold at inflated prices, adding further strain on the budgets of everyday people.

It needs to be mentioned that, the fuel shortage stems from a derailment in the Lumding-Badarpur section of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) that has hindered regular fuel transport to Tripura. The derailment, which involved a fuel tanker on October 31, caused damage to approximately 5 km of railway track, severely impacting fuel supplies.

Tripura’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Saturday announced that the government will begin rationing petrol from November 10. And the government also introduced fuel rationing limits for different vehicle types. From Sunday, two-wheeler owners were allowed to purchase up to Rs 200 worth of petrol daily, three-wheelers Rs 400 worth of petrol, and four-wheelers have a limit of Rs 1,000 per day.

However, Fuel station managers have reassured the public that the crisis is temporary and that the situation is expected to stabilize in a few days. The recurring fuel shortages, especially during the monsoon season, are attributed to frequent disruptions in rail links due to landslides and heavy rains in Assam, which affect supply routes to Tripura.

As the state faces yet another fuel crisis, calls for better infrastructure and contingency planning are growing, with many urging the government to prevent such disruptions from affecting daily life in the future.

Also watch:

COMMENTS

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment *

Name *

Email *

Website

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment *

Name *

Email *

Website