No need for panic buying: Indian Oil assures ample fuel stocks amid escalating tensions
New Delhi: The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) on Friday reassured the public that there is no shortage of fuel across the country and urged citizens not to engage in panic buying.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), IOCL stated, “IndianOil has ample fuel stocks across the country, and our supply lines are operating smoothly. There is no need for panic buying—fuel and LPG are readily available at all our outlets.” The company further appealed to the public to remain calm, emphasizing that avoiding unnecessary rush would help maintain uninterrupted fuel supply across India.
This clarification comes after social media was inundated with visuals of long queues at petrol pumps, especially in Punjab, following the recent military escalation between India and Pakistan. The spike in fuel purchases follows India’s retaliatory missile strike, dubbed Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist infrastructure at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Reports from local media noted a sharp surge in fuel demand in border districts of Punjab, with some petrol pump operators claiming sales had tripled. The panic buying began after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 individuals, including one Nepali citizen. The incident led to heightened tensions, with both countries downgrading diplomatic ties and frequent ceasefire violations reported along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistani artillery shelling has since claimed the lives of at least 16 civilians.
Adding to the tension, parts of Punjab including Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali, and Chandigarh experienced blackouts on Thursday night following missile and drone strikes launched by Pakistan. Air raid sirens were activated in Pathankot as a precautionary measure, according to a PTI report.
Authorities have advised the public to stay informed through official channels and avoid spreading misinformation, as the situation remains sensitive.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
