On 14 May 2026, long queues and panic buying were reported at several petrol pumps across Bhubaneswar and other parts of Odisha after rumours of a possible fuel shortage and fuel price hike spread amid tensions in West Asia. Videos from areas including Rasulgarh, Chandrasekharpur and Cuttack showed heavy late-night crowds of two wheelers, cars and auto-rickshaws waiting outside fuel stations, with some pumps temporarily running out of stock or rationing sales. However, the Odisha government and petroleum dealers later clarified that there was no actual fuel crisis and appealed to the public not to panic buy, stating that only a small number of outlets faced temporary supply disruptions due to the sudden surge in demand. #odisha