Many fuel outlets in and around the city went dry on Thursday and remained closed on Friday leading to long queues of vehicles in front of others.
Flooding of oil company terminals in north Chennai and roads leading to the facilities and panic buying are the reason behind these queues.
Arunkumar, a Perambur resident, who works at Purasawalkam, said he had to visit a couple of outlets before he could fill his fuel tank.
“Some bunks were water-logged, some had only diesel and a few others were rationing supplies,” he said.
There are around 400 fuel outlets in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts of which nearly 100 are closed.
“The roads are filled with potholes and heavily water-logged. It is very difficult to manoeuvre trucks filled with fuel in such a situation. The police are also not allowing vehicles on many roads due to flooding,” said a truck driver.
A dealer said that he had been getting calls from hostels, hotels and IT companies asking for diesel for generators.
“They are asking for bulk supplies... But I am unable to supply so much. Hotels usually hold stocks of up to three days. However, since there is no power supply such establishments are running entirely on DG sets,” he said.
Oil company sources, however, expressed optimism that the situation would improve by Saturday.
“There is panic buying but there is no need for that. There is enough fuel. In fact, we are getting trucks from refineries in Tiruchi and other places,” said a company source.
