Rumours trigger a bout of panic buying in a few areas

Rumours trigger a bout of panic buying in a few areas

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.06.2020

Few pockets in the city witnessed panic buying for essential commodities before noon on Friday, after rumours over an impending lockdown spread wild on social media. People rushed to their neighbourhood supermarkets to stock up for the coming week.

A supermarket at Saidapet which had noticed a drop in customers following relaxation of lockdown restrictions, saw a sharp jump in customers on Friday. An anxious customer was seen inquiring with his family members on the phone about products probably left off his shopping list. “There were messages of an impending lockdown in Chennai soon. So I rushed to buy all necessities today (on Friday) itself,” Hari, the customer, said.

The supermarket usually sees 60-70 billings from morning to noon but saw almost double the business on Friday. Similarly, a vegetable shop in Saidapet also had a busy Friday morning.

Meanwhile, owner of a snack outlet at KK Nagar said it saw only a marginal rise in customers. “We had more customers than in the past few days. Must have been because of the rumours about another lockdown”

We had more customers than in the past few days. Must have been because of the rumours about another lockdown

Owner | SNACK SHOP IN KK NAGAR