Fuel Shortage Disrupts Life in Nabarangpur and Daringbadi, Long Queues at Petrol Pumps
Nabarangpur/Daringbadi: A severe shortage of petrol and diesel disrupted normal life across Nabarangpur town and parts of Kandhamal district on Wednesday, leading to long queues at fuel stations and impacting transportation, trade, and agricultural activities.
In Nabarangpur, only one out of seven petrol pumps remained operational, despite reports indicating that a total of 29,339 litres of petrol and 33,371 litres of diesel were available across outlets. Several pumps stayed closed due to technical issues such as machine and motor breakdowns. At one fuel station, operations were halted even though it had 10,000 litres of petrol and 8,000 litres of diesel in stock.
A Civil Supplies official stated that fresh consignments—41,700 litres of petrol and 23,800 litres of diesel—were expected to be supplied to five petrol pumps in the town by Wednesday.
To manage the crisis, authorities have introduced rationing measures. Motorcycles are being provided fuel worth ₹100, while four-wheelers are limited to a maximum of 5 litres.
The shortage has severely affected farmers, as diesel is essential for operating tractors, pump sets, and other agricultural machinery. Trade and transportation have also taken a hit, with delays reported in the movement of goods.
The situation is more critical in Kandhamal district’s Daringbadi block, where both fuel stations catering to nearly 25 panchayats remained closed on Wednesday, causing widespread inconvenience.
Reports have also emerged of black marketing, with fuel being sold at inflated prices. The crisis has further disrupted mobility in the hilly and forested region, where residents largely depend on two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws due to limited public transport.
Farmers in the area have expressed concern over stalled irrigation and farming operations.
Meanwhile, a petrol pump owner said that a fuel tanker has already been dispatched and is expected to reach Daringbadi soon, offering hope of relief.
