KOZHIKODE: Barber shops in Perambra and surroundings have been closed out of Nipah fear. The saloons in Perambra were closed indefinitely from May 27 onwards followed by neighbouring places like Naduvannur and Keezhariyur. "We have no customers since a fortnight and have planned to open the shops only after the Nipah scare is over completely," says Sajith T.K, a barber at Perambra. There are more than a dozen saloons in and around Perambra.
"It is the joint decision of the barbers of Keezhariyur not to work in the midst of Nipah and monsoon diseases," says Mr. Rajan a barber in Keezhariyur. All the 11 shops of Keezhariyur will remain closed till June 12. "We are the people who carry out job in close proximity with the client and sometimes it is not practical for us to follow all the instructions provided by the health department," he says.
However, the district unit of Kerala State Barber Association has not called for shut down. "We know that the business at Perambra and neighbouring places has dwindled down but the association has not given any direction to close saloons," said Muhammed Ishaq, Association Kozhikode block secretary. "Further we have insisted the members to take all the precautions told by the health department," he added.
