Panic buying witnessed in CCpur
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, November 15 2013 : Rumours about shortage of salt spread in Churchandpur where some people paid as high as Rs 100 for a pack of one kilogram of salt.

The panic buying reportedly started early in the day, and by 10 am the situation turned ugly as traffic police struggled to regulate vehicle movement in some areas with the vehicles of salt seeking individuals and the sizeable crowd struggling to lay their hands on the white substance considerably narrowing the motorways.

At some point, the salt seeking crowd even tried to turn violent forcing the shop owners to temporarily close their stores.

As traders seeking to capitalise on the sudden rise in salt demand began announcing that their stocks are running out, several pockets in the town have reported that the prices for salt reached Rs 100 per kilogram in their area.

The swift action initiated by the district administration along with the district police has however managed to clear the air by noon as they got hold of all known godowns and made public announcements about abundant availability of salt in the market at prescribed rates.

And more importantly, the salt shortage story was a rumour, for which the Government will initiate actions against those guilty rumour mongers.

The countered measure initiated by local authorities turned effective as it rope in the services of traffic police and various philanthropic organisations to make the announcement swift and extensive.

By evening the signs of panic vanished as people began to laugh off their forenoon actions.

Joining the crowd seeking salt was a woman who made frantic calls to every known relative in other parts of the State and outside.

'They all told me the same things, this is happening everywhere in the region, in Imphal, in Aizawl and elsewhere,' she said.

But when asked about the authenticity of the shortage story, 'look at others' is all the response she has.

Like her, the market was abuzz with frantic calls and searches all for grabbing salt only to turn exhausted after a few hours.

A young salesgirl said she felt lucky to get 2 kgs with Rs 120; people after me have to shell out Rs 100 a kilogram.

Later in the day, ADC Chairman Langkhanpau Guite addressed the press at his office after holding a meeting with student bodies, philanthropic organisations, and several other stake holders.

He assured the public that there is no shortfall in salt supply nor will there be in future and appealed against any panic buying as it will only lead to price hike.

He also claimed that after the spate of panic buying witnessed early today the district still has over 30,000 kgs of salt with the stocks.

Nevertheless he added that due to the reported shortfall in supply in neighbouring Mizoram any export of the commodity will be monitored for now.

Local CSOs will help the administration in tackling any price hike or repeating the panic buying, he added.

Besides salt, the district authorities have been working on reducing the prices of rice from the existing prices which are exorbitant at the moment to a more reasonable rate he said.

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