India’s oil ministry issues advisory, warns petrol pumps against selling loose fuel

India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Saturday issued an advisory on X urging citizens not to store petrol or diesel in loose or inappropriate containers, warning that such practices pose serious safety risks. The ministry also warned petrol pumps that strict action will be taken if they violate safety norms while dispensing fuel.

“Petrol and diesel are adequately available at retail outlets across the country. Consumers are advised not to take or store fuel in loose or inappropriate containers, as it poses serious safety risks,” the advisory said.

The advisory came after a video of a petrol pump station in India’s state of Tamil Nadu got viral on social media, where petrol was reportedly sold to a customer in a loose container. The ministry said the outlet had been suspended and appropriate action has been initiated against those responsible.

In the message posted on X, the ministry said that there is adequate availability of petrol and diesel across the country and urged consumers not to engage in unsafe storage practices. It reiterated that retail outlets must strictly follow safety guidelines while dispensing fuel and warned that violations would invite strict penalties.

The government’s advisory comes amid the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has fuelled concerns about possible disruptions to global oil supplies. Some unverified posts have claimed that fuel shortage could possibly occur in India, prompting panic buying at some petrol stations.

Officials have earlier said that these fears were unfounded and India’s fuel supply remains stable.

A day earlier, addressing the media, ministry officials had highlighted that there has been no dry out witnessed among oil and gas distributors in the country. Highlighting the panic buying of LPG by consumers, the official said that an average of 55.7 lakh requests for booking refills were placed between April 2025 and February 2026. But, the number of requests peaked at 69 lakh on March 10 and 75.7 lakh on March 12.

The same is the case with petrol and diesel where some outlets have seen a sudden spike as consumers rushed to fill their tanks amid rumours of shortages. Authorities have said that the surge appeared to be driven by precautionary purchases rather than any actual disruption in supplies.

The ministry said it has instructed all fuel retailers and dealers to strictly adhere to safety regulations while dispensing petrol and diesel, stressing that improper handling or storage of fuel can lead to accidents. It also urged citizens to rely on official information and avoid spreading or acting on unverified claims circulating online.