People flock tobacco shops fearing lockdown in Gujarat

Long serpentine queues were seen outside the tobacco shops in various parts of Junagadh fearing coronavirus lockdown in the state. Some buyers even came to get the stock for a month.

Junagadh (Gujarat): As coronavirus cases witnessed a steep rise in Gujarat's Junagadh, a fear of lockdown among those addicted to tobacco have flocked them to the stores in order to stock the product for at least a month.

Long serpentine queues were seen outside the tobacco shops in various parts of Junagadh.

Some of the customers who came to the shops have narrated their ordeal that they had witnessed during the nationwide lockdown last year.

Interestingly, the state had imposed a ban on the sale, stock, production and distribution of Gutka as well as products containing tobacco and nicotine by the then Chief Minister and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2012. Despite that, hundreds of stores are selling those products.

"We have struggled a lot during the nationwide lockdown. We had spent thousands to buy tobacco. To avoid such circumstances, we came here to keep a stock for at least a month," said a buyer.

A similar view was also seen hours after the Delhi government announced for week-long lockdown in the city. Long queues were seen outside liquor shops in various parts of the national capital.

Amid the surge in Covid-19 cases, the Gujarat government on Tuesday imposed a night curfew in nine more cities from 8 pm to 6 am. The order will come into effect from 28th April and will remain imposed till 5th May 2021.

Besides the curfew, the state government has decided to put additional restrictions in these 29 cities. However, all essential services will continue in these cities during these restrictions. Grocery stores, vegetable shops, fruit shops, medical stores, dairies, bakeries will be allowed.