AGARTALA, Jan 20 (TIWN): Petrol crisis for consecutively two days continues to pose threat to the people of the state. There are mile-long lines for petrol and diesel, with crisis of petrol in almost all the petrol pumps of the state. Driving personal vehicle has become a challenge as most of the petrol pumps of the Agartala city are running dry over past two days. A black market in petrol is flourishing, due to which common people are forced to buy petrol with higher rates.

It was a hectic day for residents of Tripura, as a large number of the fuel outlets in the city that put up 'no petrol' on Wednesday and also ran out of petrol. While there was no explanation the authority and no initiative is taken to look into the matter.

Adding to the sufferings of the people, long queue of people were found waiting with their motorcycles in front of the petrol pump in the vicinity of Agartala, giving rise to large scale black­ marketing of oil.

Meanwhile; petrol crisis has hit the state capital and sub divisional headquarters. Motor cycle users of the city have been facing an unprecedented crisis following the unavailability of fuel in most of the petrol pumps, catering to the requirement of motorists of the city and its surrounding areas.

Most of the motorcyclist had to wait for more than two hours in a queue to refill their vehicles.

Outside in the black­ market petrol was available at Rs.150 to 200 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. Owners of vehicles are facing great difficulties in obtaining fuel as petrol crisis goes large in the state.

Black market vendors have been selling petrol at almost double the official price.

Petrol crisis again hit Tripura badly with the customers suffering and standing in long queues for the last two days at petrol pumps across the capital city, Agartala. Recently, only one petrol pump is active in the city at Radhanagar. Though, the petrol crisis continued, but Dept of food & civil supplies had not yet taken any proper steps.

On the other hand, corrupt traders were fully utilizing the scarcity by selling the petrol in black markets. Speaking to TIWN a bike owner said that most of the filling stations have put the board of no petrol but actually there is petrol. We are compelled to buy petrol from the black-market at Rs 200 per liter, he added.

Owners of vehicles are facing great difficulties in obtaining fuel. They are forced to spend their days from the early morning onwards waiting in long queues in front of the petrol stations to get fuel.