Covid norms go for toss at Hyderabad\'s markets, shopping zones

HYDERABAD: In a blatant violation of safety norms amid community transmission of Covid-19, people continue to come out in public places without wearing masks. With the onset of the Sankranti holiday season, Rythu Bazaars, markets and shopping zones are attracting thousands of people.

On Sunday, hundreds of people thronged the fish market at Musheerabad, where the packed roads had vendors on either side. The Covid safety precautions went for a toss with a large chunk of people not wearing masks and gathering close to each other at the stalls.

With the huge rush of people at markets during busy hours, there is no scope for maintenance of social distance as the lanes at Rythu Bazaars are too narrow.

Interestingly, a majority of vegetable vendors at the Mehdipatnam Rythu Bazaar either do not wear a mask or wear it improperly. Chandan, one of a few vendors at the market who were wearing masks, said he was urging all customers who arrived at his stall to wear masks.

Same is the case at the busy Badi Chowdi and Sultan Bazaar shopping streets where most vendors do not wear masks. Even if they do, the mask hardly covers the nose and mouth. “I chew gutkha while conducting business. How do I consume it while wearing a mask?” questioned a crockery vendor when asked why he was not wearing a mask.