Guwahati: The Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union on Sunday withdrew its three-day strike demanding a wage hike after a discussion with different stakeholders.

But the city and its adjoining areas were reeling under a fuel crisis with most of the depots running dry over the past 24 hours.

Demands of the union included increase of monthly wages of an oil tanker driver to Rs 15,000, for a handyman to Rs 8,500 and for a pump operator to Rs 10,500.

The union demanded fulfilment of its demands at a meeting attended by the representatives from Kamrup (metro) district administration, transporters union, petroleum dealers association and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.

"We have called off the strike. In the meeting we were assured that our demands would be considered as soon as possible. Fuel tankers have started operating and the fuel crisis will be over soon," Ramen Das, an office-bearer of the Assam Petroleum Mazdoor Union, told The Telegraph.

Kamrup (metro) additional deputy commissioner Nabadip Pathak said: "A negotiation took place in the meeting. All officials have assured us of a proper solution soon."

Rajib Goswami, an office-bearer of the petroleum dealers' association, said already 40 tankers were loaded with fuel and on the way to fuel stations from the Betkuchi-based terminal. "We will carry out the loading process till 10pm," Goswami added.

Sources in the tanker owners' association said the problem arose after several tankers became useless because of expansion of railway network in the region.

Earlier, tankers were the only means to carry fuel to the Barak Valley.

Now, railway connectivity has made them redundant.

Repeated calls to Indian Oil Corporation officials went unanswered.