Rumours around sealing trigger panic buying spree in Lucknow

TNN | Updated: Apr 9, 2020, 07:06 IST

In various areas such as Daliganj and Thakurganj, people thronged markets for groceries and medicines soon after the announcement

In various areas such as Daliganj and Thakurganj, people thronged markets for groceries and medicines soon aft...Read More

LUCKNOW: The 14-day lockdown went into a toss when people in large numbers, violating social distancing norms, came out of their houses to buy essential commodities following rumours that entire city would be sealed till April 30. Such was the situation in some areas that commissioner of police Sujeet Pandey had to personally intervene to manage the crowd.
Around 3pm, rumours started pouring in from different areas, causing panic among local residents. Hundreds of people rushed out of their houses to buy vegetables and other essentials, forcing police to even resort to mild lathicharge in some localities.

District magistrate Abhishek Prakash and Pandey took control of the situation near medical stores in Chowk locality. Pandey was seen appealing to people on loudspeakers to return to their houses. "You will continue getting essential items. There is no need for panic buying," Pandey was heard telling people.
Additional DCP, traffic, Purnendu Singh, was controlling crowd near jewellers' market in Chowk.
At Narhi, Dandaiya, Krishna Nagar, Telibagh, Naka, Aminabad and Thakurganj police had to use mild force to control the crowd. At Narhi, ACP Abhay Mishra and SHO Santosh Singh were seen directing vegetable vendors to close their shops. The police were also seen booking vehicles which were parked haphazardly in market areas.
At Dandaiya vegetable market police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse people. Similar situation was witnessed outside a medial store in Krishna Nagar.