Hyderabad: 'Janata Curfew' sparks rush to malls, markets

Hyderabad: In view of 24-hour 'Janata Curfew' on Sunday, malls and markets witnessed heavy rush of people buying essential commodities. In many malls in the city, boards are displayed that sanitisers and hand washes are out of stock.

In some trade centres, pulses and vegetables stocks are emptied duet to panic buying. Most of the Rythu Bazaars in Hyderabad were also flooded with people to purchase the commodities.

The managements of the malls and big grocery shops said that they put sufficient stocks in place anticipating huge rush of people to the stores.

The visitors' count is almost double and the demand for every commodity is increased suddenly. There is no end to the buying of sanitisers and hand wash gel by the visitors and it is first time that all the stocks were emptied on a single day, the store manager said.

Raghavendra, who is working in a multinational IT company said that he was buying all essential committees to meet the family needs for two months as he got information that the spread of coronavirus will intensify in the coming days and the stores will be shut soon.

The demand for vegetables has been increased manifold in the rythu bazaars where people stood in queue and bought them in big quantities. Fruits particularly watermelon and grapes were also on high demand in view of growing temperatures in the just started summer.

A social activist and corporate employee K Sivaram said that it was unfortunate that rich people are buying commodities unlimited as if they will be starved of food in the coming days.

The lower middle classes and poor will be the worst hit if the food grains and other essential committees are not available for them as they buy on daily basis with their meagre earnings. The government should act and ensure the poor get required essential goods during the crisis time.