Panic buying seen after PM Modi’s national lockdown announcement in India

NEW DELHI, Nar 24, 2020, India Today. As soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a never-happened-before national lockdown for the next 21 days, a panic button was triggered across the country as reports of people rushing to buy groceries and essentials began surfacing, India Today reported.

In an extreme step, PM Modi announced a nation-wide lockdown, starting midnight, to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country, PM Modi said that every state, every district and every village be under lockdown for the next 21 days, as Pan Pacific Agency reported.

Grocery stores had long queues even before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 8 pm address could end. People rushed out of their homes, forgetting PM Modi’s reiteration about social distancing, to stock up on groceries and essential items.

A twitter user uploaded a video that she took from her balcony showing a movement of vehicles as soon as PM Modi made the national lockdown announcement.

“People running around to buy stuff, dunno if it’s really good step to put curfew”, the Twitter user said.

Another twitter user shared a before and after image of a street outside his house showing a stark difference in the traffic on that road prior to PM Modi’s announcement and after that.

“Before @PMOIndia’s address to the nation and after.#lockdownindia #panicbuying,” the Twitter user said.

A resident of Noida in Uttar Pradesh, shared an image of people queueing up outside a grocery store in his society building carrying big bags to stock up with essentials.

All of this was witnessed even after PM Modi assured that essential services will continue to run and that the Centre is working closely with the states to ensure that there is no shortage of essential supplies.

Soon after seeing reports of panic-buying, PM Modi tweeted saying “THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED TO PANIC”.

My fellow citizens,

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED TO PANIC.

Essential commodities, medicines etc. would be available. Centre and various state governments will work in close coordination to ensure this.

Together, we will fight COVID-19 and create a healthier India.

Jai Hind!

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 24, 2020

“Essential commodities, medicines etc. would be available. Centre and various state governments will work in close coordination to ensure this,” PM Modi said.