Panic over poor availability of fuel continued throughout the country, as Nepal Oil Corporation ( NOC) pumped out limited supply of oil amid the Indian supplier IOC 's silence over issuing normal supplies to Nepal, local media reported on Monday.

While corporation officials expressed optimism about receiving "good news" from IOC on Monday, NOC deputy general manager Umesh Dahal told The Kathmandu Post daily the corporation did not receive any fuel on Sunday as it is a public holiday in India.

Meanwhile, India's Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said India would take a sympathetic view of any Nepali request for an augmented fuel supply.

The remark comes a day after Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala requested India to resume normal petroleum supply till the election to the Constituent Assembly is held in the country.

The NOC owes the Indian firm about 5.96 billion Nepali rupees ( some 85 million US dollars), and the IOC this month refused to send oil until it received 150 million rupees (2.1 million dollars) a month.

Source: Xinhua