By KUMAR VIKRAM
Video shared on X alleges multiple vehicles broke down after filling fuel at the same petrol pump; no official confirmation of contamination has been released.
New Delhi, July 13, 2026 — A video circulating on social media has sparked concerns over fuel quality after a woman claimed her car stalled within minutes of refuelling and alleged that the petrol dispensed at a fuel station was contaminated. The claims, however, remain unverified, and no official findings have been released.
The video, shared on X by user Sandeep Manudhane, shows the woman displaying bottles containing liquid samples that she says were collected after her vehicle broke down shortly after filling a full tank of fuel.
According to her account, the car stalled just minutes after leaving the petrol station. She said roadside assistance helped move the vehicle to safety before it was towed back to the fuel station, where samples were allegedly taken from the fuel.
Holding up one of the bottles, the woman claimed the upper layer was petrol while the liquid below was identified by petrol pump staff as ethanol. She also compared the sample with what she described as pure petrol and pure diesel to argue that the issue was not caused by accidentally filling the wrong fuel.
She further alleged that several other motorists arrived at the petrol station with similar complaints while she was there. According to the video, one delivery rider’s motorcycle had also stalled after refuelling, and additional fuel samples were collected from other affected vehicles.
The woman said petrol pump representatives attributed the issue to E20 fuel blending, referring to the government’s ethanol-blended petrol programme. She claimed that no one at the station accepted responsibility and that police were eventually called before discussions were held with the station manager.
According to her statement, technicians drained approximately 42 litres of fuel from her vehicle, but the engine still failed to start immediately. She said the car eventually started only after fresh premium petrol was added and several attempts were made to restart the engine.
The authenticity of the video and the exact cause of the reported breakdowns have not been independently verified. There has been no official statement from the petrol pump, the concerned oil marketing company, or government authorities confirming fuel contamination or linking the incident to ethanol blending.
Experts have previously noted that E20 petrol, which contains up to 20 percent ethanol, is approved for compatible vehicles under India’s fuel transition programme. Any allegation of contaminated fuel requires laboratory testing and investigation before conclusions can be drawn.
The incident has nevertheless drawn significant attention online, with users calling for an independent inquiry and greater transparency regarding fuel quality standards.
India’s E20 Fuel Policy: Energy Security Win, Consumer Choice Lost?
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