Amid spike in Covid-19 cases, Chaitra sale market gains momentum in Silchar

April 12: With the advent of the second wave of coronavirus, the number of positive cases are increasing by leaps and bounds. On Monday, 33 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Cachar district, thereby taking the tally of active cases to 70. However, the increasing numbers seems to have no impact upon the people . Chaitra Reduction Sale market has taken the upper hand in Silchar and people are thronging the shops in the town for purchase of household items at a ‘cheap rate.’

On Monday, Silchar town witnessed huge traffic congestion from around 10 in the morning, which continued the whole day till the shops were shut at night. Social distancing was taken for a ride by the people. Majority of the customers were without face masks. It seems that the people were exhibiting a damn care attitude to the deadly coronavirus.

The run-up to Poila Boishakh is peak season for city shopkeepers. And this year, it’s all the more important because the nationwide lockdown had wiped out all business prospects around this time last year. So naturally, hopes were high this year. However, the onset of the fresh wave of COVID-19 has cast a spell upon the wishes of the shopkeepers. But still, Silchar seems to be on a shopping spree as both the shopkeepers and the customers are hardly following the Covid appropriate behaviour.

One such shopkeeper selling crockery in the footpath at Central Road said, “Last year due to COVID-19, we were unable to set up our shops which resulted in heavy loss. And this year if we keep our shops shut, then genuinely we will die due to poverty.” When asked to abide by the Covid protocol, he said, “Where were the Covid protocols when a few days ago all political parties were canvassing, conducting rallies attended by hundreds and thousands of people? What was the government doing then? It seems except election crowd, Covid-19 infects all others!.”

The jostling crowds, the excitement among the people, overcrowded streets of Chaitra Sale market really instills fear of spike in the number of positive cases in the coming days.