Cyclone Threat Triggers Panic Buying In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: With cyclone Kyant brewing over the Bay of Bengal, panicky people in Odisha are thronging shops and vegetable markets in a desperate attempt to stock adequate quantities of essential commodities.

Even though the government asked the people not to be panic as the cyclonic storm is likely to have less impact, the people have resorted to panic buying of essential commodities fearing that it may repeat of Hudhud and Phailin like situation.

The vegetables are gradually vanishing from the shelves of shops. Some essential items like candles and matchboxes have simply vanished from the shelves of shops.

“We had faced a lot of problems because we did not store up essential items when Hudhud struck Odisha. Therefore this time we do not want to take any chances,” said Rajendra Pattnaik, a resident of Bhubaneswar.

Reports are also coming in from coastal districts  that panic-struck villagers leaving their homes for safer places.

Meanwhile, unscrupulous traders are trying to cash in on the sudden rush artificially increasing the prices of essential commodities in the process. They have allegedly hoarded the essential products to jack up the price.

The Met department expects that the coastal Odisha would experience the impact of cyclone Kyant on October 26-27.

“Surface wind from Northerly direction with speed reaching 30 to 35 kmph with gusting 45 kmph would prevail along and off Odisha coast. Sea condition would be moderate to rough,” said a met bulletin.