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Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 31 (EMN): The owners of essential goods stores and vegetable vendors in Kohima, Nagaland are bearing the brunt of the nationwide lockdown being imposed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) as the number of customers has dropped.
Kohima initially witnessed citizens resorting to panic buying of essential commodities after the nation-wide lockdown was announced on March 24, but on day-7 of the lockdown, number of customers has decreased, shop owners informed.
Owner of Kohima Grain Store, M Solo, told Eastern Mirror that sale of commodities especially rice, dal and mustard oil doubled during the initial period of the lockdown as people rushed to buy such items. He informed that there was no shortage of goods, adding that their orders arrive by 3 am in the morning. He stated that Nagas are “mon chotu” (small hearted), saying that they tend to panic easily even over trivial issues. He added that there were only few customers on Tuesday.
“We will continue to open the stores until further notice from the deputy commissioner,” he said.
Another shopkeeper from Kohima named Ayush informed that there is no shortage of goods. “Since lockdown till yesterday, we had many customers, but today, it is like normal days,” he said. “People have already bought all the essential goods and now they are coming out to buy only small items,” he added.
Owner of LP Grocery Shop Lalbabu also said that there was no shortage of goods. He said that they have stopped ordering after their agency in Dimapur raised the prices, and selling their stocked goods at normal rate to the customers. He also said that number of customers has decreased unlike first few days of lockdown.
The number of customers in vegetable market has also decreased. Banarasah, a vegetable vendor, informed this newspaper that the lockdown did not affect business and there is no shortage.
He said the number of customers has increased but the prices of vegetables have dropped too, thus not making much impact to their business. He added that the Kohima Municipal Council checks the rates of the goods daily.