No shortage of fuel or LPG in J&K, don’t believe rumours: CM Omar Abdullah

• Omar Abdullah urges calm, warns against panic buying at petrol pumps

JAMMU, MARCH 26: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to pay heed to rumours about any shortage of essential commodities, making it clear that there is no scarcity of petrol, diesel or LPG in the Union Territory and that the supply position remains normal.

Addressing reporters, the Chief Minister expressed concern over panic triggered by unverified messages and misleading social media posts, saying such rumours were creating avoidable confusion among the public. He said the government had reviewed the prevailing situation in detail and found that the availability of fuel and cooking gas was fully adequate, with no disruption in supplies.

“It is unfortunate that people sometimes ignore official clarification but quickly believe rumours. We have assessed the situation and there is no shortage of diesel, petrol or LPG cylinders. The position is stable and unchanged over the past few days,” the Chief Minister said.

He appealed to the public to remain calm and act responsibly, cautioning that panic buying and unnecessary rush at fuel stations could create artificial pressure on the system. He said long queues outside petrol pumps, driven by fear rather than actual shortage, could disturb normal supply operations and inconvenience the public at large.

The Chief Minister specifically advised people not to rely on social media speculation and not to gather at petrol pumps out of anxiety. He warned that if the rush continues despite there being no shortage, the administration may be compelled to take temporary measures, including regulating or briefly shutting certain outlets, to maintain order and prevent crowding.

Emphasising that there was no cause for alarm, Omar Abdullah said fuel and LPG supplies were sufficient and there was no justification for panic. He said the public should place trust in verified official information rather than baseless rumours circulating online.

Referring to the wider national picture, the Chief Minister said the Central Government was closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that essential supplies remained available without interruption. He maintained that there was currently no shortage anywhere in the country and stressed that people should remain composed and avoid actions that could create unnecessary uncertainty in the market.

His remarks came amid reports of anxious consumers gathering at petrol pumps following rumours of a possible shortage, prompting the government to issue a strong reassurance and appeal for restraint. The Chief Minister’s statement was aimed at restoring public confidence and ensuring that normal supply chains are not disturbed by panic-driven buying.