Chaos And Panic Buying In Bhatkal Before Lockdown

Bhatkal, 27 Apr 2021 [Fik/News Sources]:  There was a mad scramble at vegetable shops, meat shops, grocery shops and super markets in Bhatkal to stock up on essentials. Hours before the stringent lockdown to contain COVID-19 in Karnataka came into effect on Tuesday, people flocked to railway stations, bus terminus and waited in serpentine queues at toll plazas on national highways to board vehicles to reach their homes.

The government decided to impose a 14-day lockdown following the recommendation of the Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19 to contain the spread of the virus, which has grown alarmingly.

Holding their luggage, families, and students swarmed the KSRTC bus stand of the city. The scene was a stark reminder of the previous year’s panic among people during lockdown to get to their hometowns and villages.