Lucknow, March 28 -- Compared with March 23 this year (treated as the baseline), fuel sales across Uttar Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented surge between March 24 and 26, with official data showing sharp spikes in petrol and diesel consumption, pointing to widespread panic buying. Statewide nozzle sales data revealed that petrol sales jumped by 19% on March 24 (compared with March 23), 36% on March 25, and remained elevated on March 26. Diesel demand surged even more sharply, rising 36%, 77%, and 75% over average sales during the same period. The spike was most pronounced in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where several districts recorded over 200% growth. Districts like Deoria, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur saw petrol sales more than double, while diesel sales in Pratapgarh surged by a staggering 330%, the highest in the state. Even the state capital, Lucknow, reported a dramatic rise. Petrol sales grew from just 3% above normal on March 24 to 100% by March 26, while diesel followed a similar trend, reaching 100% growth within two days. Officials attribute the surge to panic buying amid rumours of fuel shortage, though they maintain that supply remains stable. The data highlights how fear-driven demand, rather than actual scarcity, disrupted normal consumption patterns across the state....