Prices of vegetables shoot up in Chennai due to panic buying ahead of full lockdown

CHENNAI: Prices of vegetables shot up at neighbourhood shops in Chennai as people went for panic buying after the Tamil Nadu government announced a full lockdown from Monday till May 31 that will see grocery and vegetable shops shut.
The rates of most of the vegetables at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC) was jacked up by at least by two times more than their usual cost.
Potato was sold at Rs 40 per kilogram while tomato was priced Rs 30, carrot Rs 50, beans Rs 90 and ladies finger Rs 75 at Koyambedu. The price escalation reflected in the local markets, where the cost of these vegetables doubled making the essential commodity dearer for consumers.
In some markets, the cost of some vegetables hit Rs 200 per kilogram with ladies’ finger and brinjal being sold in the similar price range.
In Choolaimedu, the price of one kilogram of potato was spiked by Rs 30 and sold at Rs 50.
In Madipakkam, tomatoes were sold as high as Rs 40 per kg while onion was going a Rs 45 per kg. On Saturday, the price of tomato was hovering around Rs 15.
At Chitlapakkam, one bunch of coriander leaves was available for Rs 30 on Sunday that was just Rs 10 on Saturday. Residents complained that several vegetable vendors in their area are indulging in charging exorbitant rates cashing in on the demand during.
However, a few online entities were fair, who were selling the vegetables at nominal and usual prices.
Panic buying was visible at supermarkets, as people were seen piling up on staples like atta, maida, dal and pulses. The shelves were running out dry quickly and the staff were seen busy refilling them as long as they had it in stock.