The Assam government’s move to ease difficulties of the people during the lockdown by making essential commodities readily available seems to have boomeranged as people thronged markets in large numbers to stock on goods on March 27.
After near-complete lockdown for the last two days, the scenes on the streets were different in many parts on March 27, especially in main city Guwahati.
While the government made arrangements for sale of vegetables in the city in seven select places, most markets in the city started opening for business since morning.
In Fancy Bazar, Machkhowa, Six Mile and Ganeshguri areas, among others, people came out in hordes to buy vegetables and other commodity, sending social distancing and all restrictions for a toss.
As the crowds swelled as the day progressed, the administration was forced to order closure of all such markets.
Earlier on March 26, the state government had notified timing for opening of grocery and other essential component stores throughout the state. The chief minister had also announced that vegetable, fish and meat would also be made available to the people.
Though no positive case of COVID 19 has been reported in the state so far, the state government has been adopting precautionary measures to ensure no outbreak of the pandemic in the state.
