Pumps go dry as fuel shortage continues in Pondy

PUDUCHERRY: The arrival of fresh loads of petrol and diesel was not sufficient to overcome the shortage of the products in Puducherry here on Tuesday.The petrol pumps, which received the fresh stocks, had to resort to rationing after members of the public began thronging them from early morning. Still the situation looked grim as the pumps went dry by afternoon. According to A Srikanth, one of the office bearers of the Petrol Pumps Owners Association, the situation was expected to improve by Wednesday after more stocks arrived. But normalcy was expected  only by Friday, he added.Meanwhile, the petrol pumps which were open witnessed long queues of vehicles. Customers, whose vehicles stopped midway, were present in good numbers with bottles and cans to procure petrol.Most of the pumps turned to rationing to put a check on the panic buying and to bring some kind of restrictions on the stocking of petrol by unscrupulous elements. One of the pump owners said the rationing would continue till sufficient stock arrived.The scorching sun saw some of the customers losing their tempers and there were arguments over jumping queues. Some of them jostled and had fights, but had no option but to wait for their turn.