Hyderabad: Rush in markets after extension of lockdown

Families throng markets and kirana stores to purchase essentials

Hyderabad: The four-hour relaxation window between 6 am and 10 am on the eight day of the lockdown had most of the city markets and local kirana stores busy with shoppers thronging to buy essentials.

The government decision to extend the lockdown till May 30 has made several households to go for stocking the essentials further which resulted in relatively more crowds at the markets. The store owners pointed out that as the decision to extend lockdown was announced last night, there were more shoppers on Wednesday morning to buy groceries.

Sai Prasad, an employee at a grocery delivery firm, said, “The traffic is just like any other weekday during the morning. In fact, there were even slight traffic jams on the inner ring road from LB Nagar to Uppal.”

Most of the supermarkets and kirana stores in the colonies witnessed an increased footfall as compared to last two days. “There was more rush between 8 am and 9 am today,” quipped a store owner.

As the lockdown came into force at 10 am, the shops pulled shutters and vendors on the roadsides packed their unsold stock of vegetables and returned home. “Unlike last lockdown, people now are not thronging the markets in the last hour that used to result in a mad rush,” said another store owner at Taranagar.

By 11 am, moderate traffic was witnessed on the roads, especially on the inner ring road. The stretch from LB Nagar to Begumpet saw traffic just the way it would be on a holiday afternoon, with slight waiting at the signals as well. But, usual traffic hotspots like the Uppal circle, Sangeet signal, Paradise crossroads, etc. were practically empty. Similar were the scenes at Punjagutta, Khairatabad, Banjara Hills, Khairatabad, Lakdikapul and other areas.

The usually bustling Abids Road, Koti Bank Street were empty but for the delivery executives, emergency vehicles and a few commuters. Sultan Bazaar road was closed off by the police and was completely deserted.

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