A strike by oil tanker operators created a shortage of petroleum products across the country, causing panic among the people who were lining up at gas stations to make bulk purchases of petrol and diesel.

Operators say the protest was a response to tougher measures imposed by transportation police following last month's incident in which 215 people were killed in an oil tanker accident. The tanker involved was not properly maintained and the driver's licence was invalid.

Since then, authorities have imposed fines on tankers they claim are not fit to transport oil.

Oil tanker owners say police and other officials are exploiting the June 25 accident to obtain bribes from their drivers.