Noida/Ghaziabad: Soon after the Uttar Pradesh government announced that all COVID-19 hotspots in 15 districts including Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad will be sealed till April 15, people thronged markets to stock groceries, medicines, vegetable and other essentials which resulted in chaos.



Residents from high-rise residential complexes, sectors, villages and other parts of city rushed from their houses to nearby markets where many were seen without masks and social distancing was nowhere observed.

Grocery stores had long queues even before official order from the competent authorities as news first broke out at media platforms. People came out of their homes, forgetting about social distancing norms, to stock up on groceries and essential items.

Amid the panic situation, people were seen eager to purchase whatever available at the shops ignoring price factor. Medicine shops were too witnessed similar situation as they people were seen worry about the complete lockdown in both the bordering districts of Uttar Pradesh.

"People running around to buy stuff as they are not sure what will happen during a tighter lockdown that the normal lockdown announced earlier by the Prime Minister. The possibility of extension of nationwide lockdown has also sent us into tizzy. Our stocks are already finished hence we wanted essential commodities to be stocked before implementation of the recent order," said a resident living in Noida extension area.

Scores of residents of Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad shared images of people queueing up outside a grocery store in their society buildings carrying big bags to stock up with essentials. Panic buying begins in Noida after another announcement on lockdown extension. Where are distancing norms and guidelines to contain community spread?, claimed people of micro blogging site. They also said that shop owners also making benefit because of the order. They are charging more than printed rates.

All of this was witnessed even after district authorities' assurance that essential services will continue to run and that the agencies are working closely with the stakeholders to ensure that there is no

shortage of essential supplies in any households in the whole region.

It may be noted that a similar situation had also arised when Prime Minister had announced lockdown in the country. The area had assembling a people for essential items ignoring social distancing.