While most of petrol-diesel stations ran dry, the only pumps that were better off were the ones run by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

“There has been panic buying all over the city. The supplies from the Loni terminal of HPCL are normal and so there are long queues of customers outside all their outlets,” said Nilesh Jagtap, district-level coordinator of oil marketing companies.

“My petrol pump ran out of stock around 10 am on Wednesday. Our tankers then went to the Loni terminal but got no supplies,” said Vishal Pimple, who owns a petrol pump at Chinchwad.

The strike also crippled the public transport system in the city, with Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) saying that the day-to-day functioning of its fleet was hit because of reduced fuel supply. “Only HPCL is supplying fuel. However, PMPML is taking all steps to coordinate with oil marketing companies to ensure a normal supply to all its depots in the city,” said a press noted circulated on Thursday by the PMPML, which runs a fleet of over 1,200 buses and requires around 72,000 litres of diesel every day.

While the movement of essential goods largely continued at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), traders said they were already feeling the pinch. The grains market, however, was shut.

Traders said most of the supplies were from areas within the state but were worried over the stalemate and the fears of the strike being prolonged. “Today, we heard that half the petrol pumps in the city were shut. If it continues, even the truckers and tempos that are willing to carry goods at a higher price may stop if fuel is not available,” said Rajendra Korpe, a trader at APMC.

“Of the 100-odd trucks that carry onion to this marker daily, only 70 arrived today. Supply of potatoes has also been hit,” said Raj Shekar Patil, a trader. While traders do have stocks in grains, they do not hoard dal, rava and other non-essentials, a trader said. “We have enough grains for a fortnight,” said Pune Merchants Chamber president Deepak Bora.