Nellore collector warns against hoarding fuel ahead of Cyclone Murasu
District officials have assured residents that petrol, diesel, and essential commodities remain in ample supply before the storm makes landfall.
Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla has urged residents not to engage in panic buying of petrol or diesel as Andhra Pradesh prepares for Cyclone Murasu. According to The Indian Express, the collector stated there is no fuel shortage in the district.
The collector noted that 267 petrol bunks currently hold 1,710 kiloliters of petrol and 2,832 kiloliters of diesel. Additionally, 21,385 LPG cylinders are available at 57 outlets, and essential goods like rice and sugar are being supplied through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Current stocks include 10,832.215 metric tonnes of rice and 374.727 metric tonnes of sugar across 1,470 fair-price shops. Shukla advised the public to purchase only what is necessary and to ignore rumours.
The collector warned that authorities will take strict action against anyone creating artificial shortages or selling essential items at inflated prices. Officials are reportedly taking measures to ensure the uninterrupted supply of fuel and commodities.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that the severe cyclonic storm will cross the coast between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole. Landfall is expected between 11.30 pm on November 2 and 4 am on November 3, with winds of 100-110 kmph gusting up to 120 kmph.