A heavy downpour in the city troubled Sunday bazaars, as the vendors and customers left the market as soon the rains poured. It was a peculiar day in terms of weather, as there were hot and humid conditions in the morning and at midday the skies poured rain.
All the city’s bazaars including Green Town, Wapda Town, Wahdat Road, Walton Road, Shalimar, Shadman, Gari Shahu, Moon Market, Karim Park and Begum Kot operate from in open areas and all were closed due to rains.
Shopkeepers said customers disappeared as soon it started raining. Not only the customers left the bazaars but also the shopkeepers had to look for the shelters.
The three hour long spell of rain resulted in accumulation of water in all the Sunday bazaars of the city and vendors had to leave early. “The weather was hot and humid in first half of the day but however customers visited the bazaar but as soon there was rain, everyone had to leave,” said a vegetable vendor Abdul Sami adding it was not possible for the vendors to establish stalls soon after the rain.
“Water had seeped into every part of the bazaar and we have to pack everything,” said another vendor Asghar Sharif at Green Town Sunday bazaar. Customers said that the city government should improve arrangements and find alternative locations for establishing bazaars in rainy season. “Monsoon has set in and the city government should make proper arrangements for the bazaars,” said a customer Mohsin Jamil adding rains were not a legitimate excuse for closing these bazaars.
Meanwhile, the prices of vegetables and fruits remained stable in the bazaars. The prices of potatoes, garlic, ginger and lemon decreased while the prices of tomatoes, spinach and ladyfinger increased. In fruits, the prices of apple, mango and watermelon decreased. The prices of chicken showed a sharp increase, as it was sold for Rs 171 per kg last week, whereas, this week it was available for Rs 199 per kg.
Shoppers return early due to showers
