Odisha: Markets overflow as people stock up before lockdown
BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: People resorted to panic buying in twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack as government declared lockdown for 14 days from 9 pm on Friday in view of increasing Covid caseload.
Especially, the liquor outlets witnessed huge rush as people tried to stock liquor to manage during the lockdown. But, many people had to return with disappointment with shops exhausting the stock of regular brands. The roads were crowded with heavy movement of people, who were out in the market to buy essentials. Grocery shops and vegetable markets in twin cities saw people queuing up to pile up on stock despite the government urging them not to go for panic buying as essential shops will remain opened between 6am and 1pm every day throughout the lockdown period.
“It was such a rush that I decided to defer my plan to buy chicken. Since markets will open an all days, people shouldn’t have panicked at all. I went to the market but returned without buying anything,” said Manas Sahu, a resident of Nayapalli.
People in the Khurda and Cuttack districts besides Ganjam, Jajpur and Rourkela city are experiencing lockdown after a gap of one and a half months as since June 1 movement of people had been normalised with opening of non-essential shops. However, the night curfew from 9pm to 5pm was in vogue besides weekend shutdown in 19 districts, including the capital city.
Twin cities police commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi appealed to people to adhere to the lockdown norms. “This time, the lockdown will be a bit stricter. People should obey the rules for their safety and safety of others,” he said in a video message.
Both the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) have decided to regulate crowd for the seven hours during which essential shops will remain opened. The squads will move in the markets along with police at regular intervals to check violators.
In Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, the Omfed outlets, where packaged milk is sold, witnessed unprecedented rush. “By the time I reached the vegetable market, there was a sea of people. Initially, I was apprehensive to venture into the market for fear of infection. But then there was no way,” said Trinath Pande, a Bhubaneswar resident. At many places, the mad rush of people led to traffic jam.
CMC commissioner Ananya Das said, “A team of officials will be deployed to see whether social distancing is maintained. On Friday also, the team visited the markets in anticipation that people will crowd them.”
In Cuttack, as crowd swelled at liquor and other shops, the owners initially tried to down the shutters. They said it is the duty of the police to enforce social distancing and manage crowd. A commuter in Cuttack Sadananda Das said, “It is horrible to see such a huge gathering near every shop. The CMC should have made announcement over mike to alert people not to go for panic buying.”