Bhubaneswar: Panic buying started in coastal district of Odisha ahead of the impending cyclonic storm Fani. People were seen making beelines at grocery stores to buy essential commodities and foods before the calamity.
Scenes were similar at vegetable markets, taking advantage of which many vendors have hiked prices of vegetables. Long queues were also seen at petrol filling stations. Reports said vegetable vendors sold potato at Rs 25-Rs 40 per kg instead of the actual market price of Rs 15. Special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi has requested the food supplies and consumer welfare department to take measures to check hoarding.
Formed over the Bay of Bengal, Fani, which has been categorized as Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESC), is expected to hit Odisha coast between 10 am and 12 noon on Friday, said SRC spokesperson Sangram Mohapatra quoting India Meterological Department (IMD) reports.
It is likely to cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, around Puri with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph, a bulletin of the IMD said.
