Bhubaneswar: Panic buying has started in coastal district of Odisha ahead of the impending cyclonic storm Fani which is likely to hit the coast on Friday. People were seen thronging grocery stores to buy essential commodities and food.
Similar scenes were witnessed at vegetable markets, taking advantage of which many vendors hiked prices by a significant margin.
Long queues were also seen at fuel stations.
Reports said vegetable vendors sold potato at Rs 25- Rs 40 per kg instead of the actual market price of Rs 15. Similarly, vendors sold brinjal at Rs 50 per kg instead of Rs 20. Other vegetables were sold at exorbitant prices.
On the other hand, special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi through a letter requested the food supplies and consumer welfare department to take proactive measures to check hoarding of food and essential commodities.
Formed over the Bay of Bengal, Fani, which has been categorised as extremely severe cyclonic storm, is expected to hit Odisha coast between 10 am and 12 noon on Friday, said SRC spokesperson Sangram Mohapatra quoting IMD reports.
It is likely to cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, around Puri with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph, a bulletin of the IMD said.
The officials of coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha have been on high alert to tackle the situation.
