State-owned refiner Bharat Petroleum on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) maintained that articles and posts referring to fuel shortages in Maharashtra were “spreading misinformation”, adding that supplies across the State were stable and well-managed.

“Certain articles and posts spreading misinformation regarding fuel availability are currently circulating. BPCL would like to reassure customers that fuel supplies across Maharashtra remain stable and well managed, with continuous replenishment and regular dispatches being maintained across the State,” Bharat Petroleum said in a social media post.

The Hindu had on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) reported that certain districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru were experiencing fuel supply shortages leading to disruptions in supplies to pumps.

In its post, Bharat Petroleum mentioned that in the ongoing month until May 25 in Maharashtra, petrol sales have gone up 15% while diesel sales increased more than 20% from the comparable period last year.

The oil-marketing company emphasised that the increase in demand reflected precautionary buying and changing consumer purchase patterns rather than any supply shortage.

Specifically about diesel, it said: “The rise in diesel demand is also being driven by multiple factors, including the ongoing harvesting season leading to higher agricultural consumption, a shift of customers from private OMC outlets retailing at comparatively higher prices, and migration from institutional/commercial channels were prevailing prices are relatively higher in line with international benchmarks”.