Social distancing goes for a toss as citizens throng shops

Mad scramble for stocking up on essentials, including liquor ahead of 10-day lockdown announced by Telangana government

The lockdown announcement at 2 p.m. on Tuesday didn’t catch anyone by surprise. But supermarkets had to shutter their doors as customers rushed to make last minute purchases. And liquor shops saw massive rush across the city as tipplers tried to stock up. “I had to buy pulses and eggs. As I was expecting the lockdown I had stocked up on groceries and cereals so I was not affected,” said a resident of Khairatabad who shopped at More Supermarket. “I have been living in a self-imposed lockdown for the past 20 days. The announcement doesn’t change anything for me. I may have to go out and buy few veggies,” said G. Venkatesh who lives in Tarnaka. Liquor shops saw huge rush with tickled passersby photographing and recording videos of the long queues of people waiting with bags to make purchases. Others hauled cartons to be loaded on to their vehicles before zipping away.