Amaravati, April 26: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday directed District Collectors across the state to immediately implement an emergency action plan to address a growing fuel shortage crisis, as panic buying by the public led to the closure of over 421 petrol bunks statewide.

The Chief Minister held an urgent teleconference with Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad and senior state officials to review the situation after reports emerged of widespread closure of petrol stations due to depleted stocks of petrol and diesel.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister that out of the total 4,510 fuel outlets operational in the state, approximately 421 petrol bunks had been forced to shut their shutters due to rapid depletion of stocks.

According to officials, a total of 10,345 kilolitres of petrol and 14,156 kilolitres of diesel were supplied to dealers on Saturday. However, public concern over a perceived fuel shortage triggered a sharp spike in purchases. Under normal conditions, daily petrol consumption in Andhra Pradesh averages 6,330 kilolitres, while diesel consumption stands at 9,048 kilolitres.

On Saturday alone, petrol sales surged to 8,489 kilolitres — a jump of over 34% above the daily average — while diesel sales climbed to 10,556 kilolitres. The sudden spike caused stocks to drain rapidly at hundreds of outlets across the state, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.

Officials also flagged that bulk drum purchases by the aquaculture sector were placing additional pressure on already strained fuel supplies, compounding the crisis at the retail level.

Despite enhanced supply reaching dealers, long queues continued to form at petrol bunks across the state, driven entirely by panic purchases rather than an actual supply shortfall, officials told the Chief Minister.

Responding firmly to the situation, Chief Minister Naidu directed officials to implement a concrete action plan immediately and submit a compliance report to him by the same evening. He emphasised preventing any inconvenience to ordinary citizens and ensuring normalcy is restored at fuel stations across all districts at the earliest.

District Collectors have been put on alert and tasked with coordinating with oil companies and dealers to accelerate supply restoration and regulate purchases to prevent further hoarding.