Goa: Panic-buying in Varca on eve of total lockdown

COLVA: Panic spread among Varca villagers on the eve of the four-day total lockdown starting May 6 announced by the local panchayat, that overrides the government decision of allowing grocery items and livestock stores to remain open for a limited period.
From Thursday, all business activities in the village will come to a grinding halt.
Since early Wednesday morning, villagers jostled to purchase provisions, vegetables, meat and fish, throwing Covid protocols to the wind.
Colva police had to intervene and disperse crowds that had gathered to purchase fish brought in by a politically connected trawler owner.
One villager said that it was illogical on the part of the panchayat to announce a complete lockdown as it was bound to cause chaos.
Sarpanch Charlton Lourenco denied there was panic buying, pointing out there is always a rush at one of the vegetable vendors in the village as people believe the store sells quality stuff.
He said one of the wards in the village has reported 50 cases over the past few days, and hence to break the chain of infection, the panchayat unanimously decided for a complete lockdown.