Lockdown rumours trigger bulk buying of essential commodities
CHANDIGARH : As the Punjab government bans public transport to check coronavirus spread, bulk buying of essential commodities — groceries, medicines, fruits and vegetables — was witnessed in some parts of the state.
The hoarding which began last week is only increasing with each passing day as people pressing the panic mode amid rumours that complete lockdown is about to be enforced. There were also reports of vegetable and fruitsellers jacking up prices due to surge in demand.
“We are telling people not to hoard as there is no need to panic, but who listens?” said Ram Kumar, owner of a grocery shop in Ludhiana’s Sunet.
The demand for items like tomato puree, ginger garlic paste, tamarind paste, ketchups, dry fruits has also gone up manifolds.
“I could not get milk powder in the market and had to order it online,” said Manisha Chopra, a resident of BRS Nagar, Ludhiana.
As per reports, the rush in vegetable markets across the state was more than normal on Friday morning. In Bathinda, retail price of vegetables, including onion, potato, green pea and cauliflower, witnessed a jump of Rs 15-30 per kg in the last 24 hours. However, the situation eased in the afternoon after the district authorities intervened to regulate the prices.
Bathinda deputy commissioner B Srinivasan said arrangements have been made to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities in the district.
Mansa deputy commissioner GS Chahal said supply of vegetables, fruits and milk will be ensured at street level to ensure that people do not need to visit markets. In Amritsar, the bulkbuying subsided to some extent too after the district administration announced that shops won’t be shut.
CHICKEN SELLING FOR ₹25 PER KG!
Those in the poultry business are hard hit in view of the sharp slide in demand for chicken in the region amid rumours making rounds that coronavirus spread from chicken.
Traders say the chicken sales have dipped by over 50 per cent and prices by 70 per cent in the last one month.
Surinder Kumar, a trader from Nawanshahr, said some shopkeepers sold chicken for as low as ₹25 now.
SHORTAGE OF MASKS, SANITISERS
The sale of hand sanitisers and surgical masks has soared in the region, triggering price surge and shortage even as the government had declared them essential commodities. The masks have vanished from the medical store shelves at Jalandhar’s Dilkusha market, which is a hub of wholesale druggist. He said a normal face mask is being sold for anywhere between ₹70 and ₹200 which would cost just ₹20 to ₹60 till recently. Similar reports were received from Ludhiana, Bathinda and Amritsar.