After a month since the cyclone Fani ravaged thepilgrim city of Puri on May 3, the skyrocketing prices of essentialcommodities have added to the woes of the denizens here. While large-scale devastations were caused by the killer storm, it has broken the economic backbone of the people and a sharp rise in cost of daily consumables has hit them hard.
Particularly, the prices of rice, pulses, cooking oil, wheat, sugar, spices, milk and vegetables have grown up by 20percent in the month. The pulses which were available at Rs 70 to Rs 80 a kg before the storm are now sold at Rs 95 to Rs 100. Similarly, the price of flour has reached beyond Rs 40, flattened rice also at Rs 40 a kg. These two items were sold below Rs 30 a kg before.
Worse are prices of cooking oil and other kitchen items. Sunflower and mustard oils have grown costlier by Rs 10. Milk, spices, biscuits are also dearer. Residents allege that the local administration has completely failed to bring the dishonest traders and hoarders to book. In nexus with civil supplies officials, traders are minting money, they allege.