HYDERABAD

Fuel supply was hit, and panic-buying was the order of the day at petrol bunks across Hyderabad, owing to the nation-wide strike called organised by petroleum tanker drivers.

The drivers had called for a strike given the stringent penalties prescribed against hit-and-run cases under the new criminal laws. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, those involved in such accidents can face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to ₹ 7 lakh, in case they do not inform the authorities of the accident.

Long queues were witnessed across petrol bunks in the city. While many motorists and commuters who had reached petrol bunks to top-up their vehicles were caught unawares by the massive rush, a few others, anticipating the rush, said that they managed to avoid the fuel refilling frenzy.