Hyderabad: Businesses to down shutters from today

Hyderabad: Following an increasing spike in Covid-19 positive cases in the city of late, associations of traders and merchants are voluntarily imposing lockdown in their areas.

A self-lockdown in Laad Bazar in Old City is enforced, which reflects poorly on the Telangana government's handling of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Actually, the markets were desperate to open as they were hard hit by the lockdown induced by the pandemic for nearly two months. That they themselves went in for the lockdown points to the seriousness of the situation, point out observers.

On Friday, the traders of famous bangle market Laad Bazar in Old City downed their shutters voluntarily and vowed to enforce the lockdown till July 5. According to reports, as many as seven merchants died of virus attack and around 20 people were affected.

"As the cases are increasing rapidly in the city and it has become risky to do business in situation, the merchants were unanimous in taking the decision of self-lockdown in the market for a week," said Lad Bazar Merchant Association president Mustafa Ali Muzaffar.

"The merchants of Lad Bazar market believe the conversion of Government Nizamia General Hospital into a Covid-19 isolation facility is one of the major reasons for the spread of virus in their surrounding areas.

Hundreds of suspected cases are admitted in the hospital and later they tested positive for virus," according to Waseem Khan, a member of association.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Sanitary Goods Association, Troop Bazar, also called for self-lockdown for a week from Friday. According to the shop owners, though the association announced self-lockdown, they decided to shut the market from Saturday or Sunday.

Hyderabad Kirana Merchant Association, Begum Bazar, will also down their shutters from Sunday. "There are over 500 kirana shops that would remain shut for a week, and that all merchants decided to shut and agreed with the decision," said Hyderabad Kirana Merchants Association office-bearer Laxminarayan Rathi.

The Hyderabad, Secunderaad Sanitary Dealers association they decided to suspend all its business operations from June 27 this month till July 5. The decision was taken by keeping in view of the growing number of corona virus positive cases in the city.