Lakhimpur Kheri, March 27 -- People were seen queued up in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on Friday with canisters to buy fuel even after the Central government has appealed to citizens to avoid panic buying of petrol, diesel, and LPG.

The panic among the general public is a result of a global energy crisis due to the US-Israel war on Iran and the consequent Tehran-imposed blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil and gas supply, between 20 and 25 million barrels per day, is shipped.

Earlier today, the government slashed the excise duties for petrol and diesel, bringing them down to Rs 3 per litre of petrol and zero for a litre of diesel. Windfall tax on export of diesel has been set at 21.5 rupee...