Amid uncertainty over prospects of full lockdown in Mumbai, people are queueing up outside grocery stores to stock up their household goods.
India Today took a stock of the situation by visiting marketplaces, where long queues were witnessed outside grocery stores, even though the board outside the stores read: “We are open even on weekends to serve you.”
Customers were ready to wait even for an hour to get entry.
“I have come with my daughter for grocery shopping. There is so much uncertainty in regard to the lockdown. I don’t want to be caught in a situation where we don’t have enough supplies at home. So rather stock and be relaxed,” said Seema (name changed), who visited a South Mumbai grocery store.
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WHY THE RUSH?
Many said they have to wait for hours and there is no certainty as well. Additionally, many residential societies already have imposed restrictions on entry.
“My society is very strict. We have already had some cases and casualties last year. So, this year no one wants to take chance. We can go to the gate and get stuff, but it’s cumbersome. Rather, I just get it and be over with it,” said a customer on condition of anonymity.
Another customer said that he fears that the essential supplies stock might get over, so it is better to stock up everything in advance. “The essential supplies are always open, but we all know what happened last year. So, I don’t want to be under tension thinking whether I will get daal, rice for my family or not. So there is no harm in stocking up in advance.”
GROCERY STORES ALLOW ONLY 30 PEOPLE AT A TIME
Seeing a large crowd wanting to make a purchase, the food courts are now allowing customers in batches. “We are checking people at the entry. There are sanitisers at the counters. Further, not more than 30 are allowed inside at a time,” said the grocery store administration staff.
They agree there has been panic buying going on for the last few days. “We tell the people that there is enough stock, but they seem scared. Many have had that experience in 2020 as well. We are trying to help as many as possible,” the staff added.
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