India's Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has assured customers of fuel availability amid social media panic over shortages, while the US-Iran conflict engulfs West Asia.
In a message sent to many customers as SMS alerts in both English and Hindi, BPCL said the social media claims of a fuel shortage were “misleading and baseless”.
BPCL’s clarification comes when the union government is trying to contain panic amid the public as the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which began a week ago, have plunged the West Asian region into a war.
Iran has retaliated by targeting US bases in the region, along with missile and drone strikes aimed at Israel.
Union minister for petroleum and natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, on Friday sought to allay public concerns, stating that there is “no shortage of energy in India” and that there is no reason for consumers to worry amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Government sources cited by ANI described India’s oil, petroleum products, and LPG supplies as in a “very comfortable position”.
State-run Indian Oil Corporation dismissed social media posts alleging fuel shortages as “baseless”, asserting that stocks are sufficient and distribution networks are functioning normally.
