'Don't Hoard Food, Fuel': Chandigarh Administration Issues Strong Warning As India-Pakistan Tensions Spark Panic Buying

Chandigarh: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Chandigarh Administration on Friday issued a strong warning against the hoarding of essential items, saying such actions were causing "artificial scarcity, abnormal price rise, and could disrupt public order."

In a directive issued on May 9, Chandigarh District Magistrate Nishant Kumar Yadav said, "It had come to light that certain individuals, traders, and entities are engaged in the hoarding and unauthorised stockpiling of essential food items and fuel including petrol, diesel, and other daily necessities.”

The notice further said, "Such practices were leading to artificial scarcity, abnormal price rise, and potential law and order issues,” and if not curbed, could cause disturbance to public peace, affect essential supplies, and disrupt normal life in the Union Territory."

In a preventive measure, the administration prohibited all forms of hoarding and stockpiling. “No person, traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities shall engage in the hoarding or stockpiling of essential commodities,” the order read.

The essential commodities includes eatables like rice, wheat, pulses, sugar, edible oil, vegetables, milk products, medicines, and fuel like petrol and diesel.

Besides, all traders and stockists have been directed to declare their current stock to the Department of Food and Supplies within three days. The order will remain in effective from 09-05-2025 till July 7 2025.

The directive comes amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The administration has also appealed to the citizens that if they report any kind of hoarding, black marketing or price manipulation, they should immediately inform the Food and Supply Department or Department of Legal Metrology.

Published on: Friday, May 09, 2025, 05:40 PM IST