People throng shops in panic to fill their larder

TNN | Mar 24, 2020, 04.21 AM IST

Chennai: As the curfew lifted on Monday, people fearing a lockdown thronged grocery and vegetable shops as well as markets. Zam Bazaar market was crowded with people eager to stock up on supplies. While many went to the chicken and fish shops, several others were busy buying sacks of rice.

"I usually don’t get people asking for sacks of rice but today we have had many customers," says Mohan, a trader. "People are stocking up because they fear a shutdown." Though social distancing is the need of the hour, none of the shoppers seemed aware of the gravity of the situation.

It was a different scenario at Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam (KPN) on North Boag Road, T Nagar. By noon, there was a small queue of customers lining up before the entrance as the store is particular about the numbers allowed in at a time. A female employee, wearing a mask, took down names and numbers of customers, while another sprayed sanitiser onto the palms of those entering. "We have been insisting that customers use sanitiser before they enter our stores for more than a week now," says Senthil Natarajan, managing director, KPN. "We have also put in place a policy wherein only 20 people can be present in the store at a time," he says, adding that the protocol has been put in place across all 34 stores in Chennai.

While the store has been trying to ensure social distancing, customers do not seem to be sticking to it. Once inside, people often do not maintain distance as they rush to grab supplies. "There has been a rush in all our stores. We have tried reassuring people that there is no need to hoard," says Natarajan.

At More supermarket in Thiruvanmiyur, only up to 10 customers are allowed inside at a time. "People from our apartment complex are constantly sharing messages not to hoard supplies as the store is well stocked now," says Anuradha Balasubramanian, a resident of Ramaniyam Abhishek apartment complex located above the supermarket.

At Nilgiris supermarket in Madipakkam, residents poured in to stock up on essential supplies. "We have been given orders to limit the number of customers inside the store. So far we’ve had no shortage of milk, fruits and vegetables," says the store manager S Alagappan.

(With inputs from V Ayyappan and

Saranya Chakrapani)