Kerala - Kozhikode

Oil stir throws life out of gear

KOZHIKODE: Fuel shortage showed clear signs of disrupting normal life and even raised fears of a major crisis in the district which like other places in the State is dependent on other States for its essential goods and there was much relief as TV channels began flashing news of withdrawal of strike by a section of employees of oil companies on Friday.

Ominous signs of the trouble ahead manifested in the form of serpentine queues of vehicles of all sizes near petrol stations in the morning.

Of nearly 150 petrol pumps in the district, only those of Hindustan Petroleum remained unaffected. Its staff were not on strike. Kumar, secretary of District Petroleum Dealers Association, confirmed that fuel shortage hit the city last night itself.

But he was quick to point out that petroleum dealers were not responsible for fuel shortage and that the crisis was on account of strike by employees of oil companies.

Hindustan Petroleum has nearly 60 petrol pumps, a spokesman of the association said. He was keenly following reports which indicated the strike would end soon and supply of fuel to petrol pumps restored.

Queues at the handful of petrol stations which had not depleted their stock snaked onto busy roads causing traffic blocks. “Even movement of ration goods to places like Wayanad had been affected,” K.K. Hamsa, president of Kerala State Lorry Owners Federation, said.

Use of lorries is mainly to transport goods that reach Kozhikode by railway wagons. A lorry operator said arrival of goods-laden railway wagons from other States had declined because lorries were not available to load goods into the wagons in other States. Lorry operators were not on strike in Kerala though lorry services had been suspended in other States.

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