Long queues were witnessed at markets in Nadia district on Thursday as people scrambled to stock food and essential commodities before the start of a week-long lockdown in eight municipal areas and 25 gram panchayats from Friday.

The district on Thursday reported 95 fresh Covid-19 cases with Kalyani municipality topping the chart with 20. The total number of positive cases in the district till Thursday stood at 1,379.

The spike in Covid cases had compelled the district administration to enforce stringent lockdown from August 8 to 14. However, the people appeared to be unperturbed about the rise in cases as they jostled at crowded markets throughout Thursday. Most buyers and sellers were wearing no masks.

The panic shopping, coupled with incessant rain, resulted in a sudden spike in prices of vegetables in some areas. Demand for potatoes was the highest. The produce was sold at Rs 32 a kilo, while tomatoes were priced at 150 a kilo. Frenzy buying was witnessed at markets in Kalyani, Chakdah, Ranaghat, Santipur, Krishnagar, Tehatta, Karimpur, and Geshpur.

In the morning, hundreds stood in long queues in front of shopping complexes, grocery shops, medicine stores and bakeries. In Santipur, chaotic scenes in the markets forced traders to take the help of police to control the crowd.

Ashish Kumar Naha, a state government employee from Chakdah, who stood in a queue outside a departmental store, had to return as the wait became too long for him.

“There was a huge rush everywhere in the market. People panicked as if they would get nothing eventually...I finally gave up and returned home. I will try on Friday,” Naha said.

The administration’s order that all shops and markets would remain closed during the lockdown contributed to the rush. But, essential services like medicine shops and LPG supply would run as usual.

District magistrate, Nadia, Vibhu Goel said: “We have given ample time to the people to store essential items in sufficient quantities. Our objective is to keep people confined to home during lockdown.”

A homemaker in Kalyani said: “The administration’s intention is good but the way it is being carried out is wrong. Storing vegetables for seven days is an impractical idea even for those who have refrigerators.”

“The administration should find an alternative way while ensuring stringent monitoring. The administrative order has also pushed up prices of vegetables, while people crowded markets ignoring the protocol of physical distancing,” she added.