Petrol pumps at Naubise, Baireni and Gajuri along the Prithvi Highway in the districts were crowded with vehicles from Kathmandu as people found it too difficult to receive petroleum products in the Capital due to the ongoing fuel crisis.

“I came here after being informed that we can get fuel easily,” said a youth from Kalimati who was waiting for his turn to refuel his motorcycle at Baireni. He said there was too long queue of vehicles in petrol pumps in the Capital to receive fuel.

Those who were lined up for refuelling said they came to the area after learning that they can get as much petrol or diesel as they want.

Locals, however, were unable to refuel their vehicles due to the increasing flow of small vehicles from Kathmandu. There are around a dozen of fuel stations along the highway in the Dhading. They also complained of irregularities in fuel distribution despite the presence of security personnel at petrol pumps. A local resident said petrol pumps owners violated rules and distributed fuel to trucks at night. The petrol pump owners had agreed not to provide fuel to trucks until the situation gets normal.

Local residents also said that some people in the area are illegally selling petrol for Rs 1,000 per litre.