In view of the threat posed by coronavirus (COVID-19), the demand for masks and hand sanitisers has increased considerably in Dehradun in the past two weeks. However, the sudden demand for these commodities has created a shortage for these products in the market.
According to a local chemist, the locals are taking every possible preventive measure against the novel coronavirus that essentially include masks and sanitisers.
However, due to the surge in the public demand, the regular supply of masks and sanitisers in the market has failed to meet the demand. According to a local chemist Neeraj Kumar, “People are quite aware of their safety from coronavirus. We are selling a considerable number of masks and sanitisers in a day. Since Saturday, the sanitisers are out of stock in our shop. Many customers had to return empty-handed from our shop in the last two days.
Our stock of sanitisers will arrive on Monday, however we are also not getting the desired number of sanitiser bottles and masks as the suppliers have to fulfil the demands of their customers too.” Talking about the sale of the masks and sanitisers a chemist from Raipur area Kamal Chaddha said, “We sold the masks and hand sanitisers worth Rs 4,000 within two hours on Saturday and by 3 PM both the items were out of stock.
We are expecting the delivery of our fresh stock by this Wednesday but the supplier is also providing us limited stock as the manufacturers also take time to meet the needs of every customer.
Seeing the current scenario, people will keep buying these essential sanitation items for at least the next two months.”
Some of the locals have alleged that masks and sanitisers are being sold at a higher price than the maximum retail price “I went to Haldwani last week and had to buy a hand sanitser at Rs 150 and mask for Rs 80 though their MRP was Rs 100 and Rs 50 respectively.
Some people are taking this coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to earn few extra bucks,” said Raipur resident Preeti Ghildiyal. However, most of the chemists aver that they don’t indulge in such unethical practices. According to the owner of chemist shop on Sahstradhara Road, Sushant Sonkar,
“We are not selling the masks and hand sanitisers in more than their usual price to earn any extra profit. We are here to do the business but selling the essential products at double prices during an epidemic is disreputable for us because this epidemic will end someday but we will certainly not get those customers back.
Such practices, as small they might seem, can affect one’s reputation and business in the future.”Though most of the people are anxious about the shortage of sanitisers in the market, some of them are quite calm and have different thoughts about the whole fiasco of sanitisers. “Washing your hands using soap or handwash is a much better option to prevent the spread of germs than using a sanitiser.
People can use clothes to cover their mouth and nose if the masks are not available. There is no need to panic but to take simple precautions against the coronavirus.