Wah cantt - Masses especially public transporters have become shuttlecock between different filling stations as most of the petrol pumps in twin cities of Taxia and Wah Cantonment went dry on Friday.
The local transporters, commuters and other residents of the district faced severe hardships owing to shortage of petrol here on second consecutive day. It was observed that except a few filling stations in the area, most of the petrol pumps have been closed.
Long queues of vehicles and motorcycles could be witnessed outside the petrol pumps where the commodity was available where hundred of owners of cars, Suzuki vans, rickshaws, mini wagons, taxi cabs and motorcycles are queuing up for getting petrol outside filling stations located at Sarai Kala, Bhattar Mor, HMC road and GT road.
The fuel shortage also proved lethal for patients as several ambulances stopped in the middle of the roads while carrying patients when petrol finished in the tanks, multiplying the miseries of thousands of vehicles and motorcycles owners.
Owners of filling stations, which had run out of fuel, cordoned off petrol stations with barbed wire and tents. Signboards carrying the message “Petrol not available, sorry for the inconvenience” were placed in front of several petrol stations. Most of their staff took the day off and security guards stood in front of the petrol pumps waving potential customers away.
According to sources, the shortage occurred due to the reduced oil imports, whereas the rumours have also increased the fuel crisis as a large number of petrol pumps are refusing to provide petrol to the motorists.