AGARTALA, October 6 (TIWN): A fuel crisis hits Tripura as fuel that comes to the state from Assam has been disrupt due to the continuous blockade of National Highway (NH) 44 in Meghalaya till September 28 last hit the stock of petroleum products of the state and by that time demand of petrol and diesel went up among the Durga puja revelers. However the state government has announced to provide locomotive fuel through rationing system in the wake of petrol crisis in Agartala city and other sub-divisional headquarters. The state government would sanction 2 liters for small vehicles and 5 liters would be allowed for big vehicles on a daily basis.

For the last four days the peoples of the city are facing a huge crisis of petrol with most of the pumps shut down while only two others mentioned a shortfall. Due to this people were seen waiting for refilling their vehicle tanks. While most of the pumps supplied fuel in short, other few ones were open for the whole day facing huge crowd of vehicles. A large section of oil tankers had suspended their load fleet during the Durga Puja days. On the other, anticipating further slash down of price of fuel, dealers of the state did not send advance requisition and payment to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which further deteriorated the situation, officials stated.

It was reported that from October 1^st  all the petrol pumps of Agartala and other major cities has been witnessing a long queue for getting fuel morning to till night but many of them went back in empty tanks. Hundreds of vehicles were seen in queue in front of petrol filling station while many centers had hanged the board of no-petrol.

I have come here for petrol but they are only giving two liters per bike. How can we do with so little petrol.  Outside in the black-market petrol is available at Rs.200 to 300 per liter but that is also adulterated with kerosene. Most of the filling stations have put the board of no petrol but actually there is oil. We are compelled to buy petrol from the black-market at Rs.200 to 300 per liter, said Tanmoy Saha a biker.

Reacting on the issue the fuel suppliers of the city said that we are expecting that the oil tankers will arrive soon in the city and the problem of the citizens will be solved.