Despite lockdown, ‘Covidiots’ throng Dumartarai market
   Date :28-Apr-2021

Dumartarai market_1 
 Huge crowd turned up at the Dumartarai wholesale market.
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
There was no one from the Administration to monitor the situation, as people were doing as they pleased
 
 
SEEING the surge in the corona cases in the capital city and elsewhere also, the District Administration has extended the lockdown till May 6. However, the Administration permitted opening of wholesale market for loading and unloading of goods from 11 pm to 4 am so that the people are not devoid of the essential commodities. But the opening of the wholesale market after a long time resulted in huge crowd at the wholesale market violating all protocols. Biggest crowd was seen at Dumartarai market, where the road was clogged with vehicles. Long queues of small and big trucks were visible.
 
The crowd at storages suggested the people were less afraid of Covid, but they were more concerned about their livelihood. There was no one from the administration to monitor the situation as people were doing as they pleased. A crowd so big could cause uneasiness in the thick of pandemic and it could also be a super spreader. Dumartarai Market has large storages of food items, so it was obvious a large numbers of vehicles had reached for loading and unloading. Many retailers from outside Raipur were transporting huge quantity of food items to their respective places.
 
There was no social distancing, which increased the threat of infection. Notably, Administration has given relief from lockdown with terms and conditions as wholesale traders have been permitted for loading and unloading from 11 pm to 4 am. Delivery of ration could be made from 6 am to 2 pm through mobile hawkers with a giant sticker on their vehicle. Local online shops and e-commerce companies like Amazon, Flipkart etc can make home delivery, but the shops will remain close for commoners. Also, restaurants and hotels can also delivery food items through online services.