There was no breakthrough in the talks between LPG tanker operators and representatives of petroleum oil companies in Coimbatore after they began an indefinite strike on Thursday.

Southern Region Bulk LPG Tanker Owners Association president Sundarrajan said the new contract regulations for 2025-30 were not acceptable. The ₹20,000 penalty specified in the new contract regulations in the event of absence of an alternative driver or cleaner was detrimental to the operators, Mr. Sundarrajan said, cautioning that the shortage of petroleum products at the retail end will be felt within two to three days if the stir continues.

About 30 delegates of the association took part in the talks convened by senior-level executives of BPCL, IOCL and HPCL for about two hours in their attempt to hammer out a solution, before deciding to continue with the strike.

The constant reference point of Jaipur tanker explosion by the officials in their talks caused consternation among the operators, Mr. Sundarrajan said.

There was no certainty as to whether the talks will resume on Friday, he added.

In Salem, hundreds of LPG tankers were parked before the Indian Oil Corporation bottling plant at Karuppur in Salem district and hundreds of tankers were parked at various places in Namakkal district.