Hyderabad's Begum Bazar to re-open tomorrow

Begum Bazar market in Hyderabad which was shut down on July 28 will be re-opened tomorrow i.e, on July 6, said Hyderabad Kirana shop associated president Lakshmi Narayana Rati and Hyderabad general merchant association president Sriram Vyas.

The association said that all the merchants have decided to re-open the shops tomorrow from 10 am to 5 pm. Around 1,500 shops in the market were closed for a week in the view of the rise in the number of coronavirus cases. The merchants said that they will take up all the necessary measures wearing masks, practicing social distancing and sanitizing the shops and surroundings.

The merchants refuted the rumours of traders returning to native places fearing of being infected with the coronavirus. They clarified there is no truth in the merchants moving back to their hometown. Merchants who have symptoms of coronavirus were advised to undergo self-quarantine and consult health authorities.

Before announcing the closure of shops, the merchants cut down the shopping hours from 9 am to 3 am. However, the timings were revised from Monday i.e, from 10 am to 5 pm.

Along with Begum Bazar, Lad Bazar which is famous for bangles were also closed on June 26. Mustafa Ali Muzaffar, President of the Lad Bazaar Merchants' Association who is also the Shalibanda corporator said seven merchants had died of Covid-19 and 20 were affected to date.