Eid Shoppers Throw Lockdown Guidelines to the Wind, Throng Patna Markets

Eid Shoppers Throw Lockdown Guidelines to the Wind & Throng Patna Markets 

      PATNA: Social distancing norms went for a toss as people in large numbers thronged markets in the city on Thursday morning to buy essential items for Eid-ul-Fitr, which will be celebrated on Friday. As per the Islamic calendar, the celebration marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan.

           People started thronging shops which opened at 7am to sell essential items. With lockdown in place, the shops downed shutters at 11am but only after witnessing huge rush of people. Several shopkeepers 

were seen violating the curfew. 

Some vehicles were also seen plying on roads near Sabzibagh, Phulwarisharif, Alamganj, Shahganj and Raja Bazaar.

       Huge rush was seen at shops selling vermicelli or ‘seviyan’ and lachcha, grocery, bakery, milk, fruits, vegetables, chicken and meat. Owner of a bakery at Sabzibagh, Md Afsar Ali, said the customer footfall was much lower than the previous year. “Despite the nationwide lockdown, we had made good profit last year. However, the business was badly affected this time as shops are allowed to open for only five hours a day,” he said.

    Several bakeries in the city have increased the prices of ‘naan rotis’ and ‘bakarkhanees’. Shafi Khan, a shopkeeper at Haroon Colony, said they have reduced the workforce and increased the prices of bakery items. “Naan rotis, which were earlier available at Rs 20 to Rs 220, are now being sold between Rs 50 and Rs 300. There is also 5% rise in prices of ‘bakarkhanees’, ‘lachcha’ and ‘seviyan’,” he said.

 

(Source: Times of India)