Coronavirus: Panic buying across markets after 21-day lockdown announcement, PM Modi appeals for calm
Minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide total lockdown in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, people rushed to grocery stores to buy essential items. Panic buying was seen in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). In his speech at 8 pm on Tuesday, PM Modi announced a national lockdown which he said would be in effect for 21 days starting midnight on Thursday.
Long queues were seen in grocery shops across the city and surrounding areas. There was a palpable scare among the people about a possible shortage of daily food items, and shopkeepers were being asked whether the stores would remain open in the coming days.
While the image above shows a situation at a store in Noida Sector 14, it was worse at other locations in Delhi-NCR.
Panic buying across markets after 21-day lockdown announcement, PM Modi appeals against it
From grocery stores to medical shops, people stood in queues to buy essential items and medicines
Panic buying
At many places, shopkeepers were seen assuring customers that shops will remain open in coming days. However, this had little effect on buyers who brought large shopping bags and placed orders in big quantities.
PM Narendra Modi appealed for calm and advised people to not rush to stores in a state of panic.
PM Narendra Modi on Thursday, announced a nation-wide lockdown for 3 more weeks. In his televised address to the nation, second in a single week, PM Modi said that the nationwide lockdown will be a step ahead of Janata Curfew held on March 22.
"If you don't observe national lockdown in the coming 21 days, our country will go back 21 years in past," he said, underlining the seriousness of the situation.
"The only way out of coronavirus pandemic is social distancing, there is no other way," PM Modi said during his televised speech.
The lockdown kicks-in at midnight tonight (March 24).
Watch PM Modi's speech on national lockdown
