Panic buying starts, prices also start rising

JALANDHAR: Panic buying started on Wednesday after India launched Operation 'Sindoor'. People rushed to buy groceries in large quantities for storage, and there was also extra buying of onions, potatoes, and other vegetables. While there were queues at the petrol pumps, there was also a surge in bookings for LPG cylinders.A heavy rush of customers was witnessed at DMart stores near Pathankot Chowk and near Guru Nanak Mission Chowk. At the former store, the staff had to close the gate as people turned up in large numbers. Karyana merchants also reported a surge in customers.There was also a rush at the medicine stores from patients who are on long-term treatments. "There was a surge in those patients purchasing medicines who are on long-term medication or have chronic issues, buying medicines for at least a couple of months," said Tejinderpal Singh of Imperial Medical Hall in Jalandhar.Meanwhile, the prices of vegetables, especially onions and potatoes, also started increasing. "There was an increase of Rs four per kg in the prices of onions and potatoes in the wholesale market in the morning itself," said Jammu, a migrant vegetable vendor in Phagwara.Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain urged people not to hoard essential items like oil, cooking gas, medicines, and ration in the district as there was no shortage of anything. Stating that hoarding could encourage black marketing, she warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found engaging in such activities.There was also a rush at the petrol pumps as people preferred completely filling the fuel tanks of their vehicles.