People resorted to panic buying as rumours about salt shortage in the country went viral on social media on Saturday.
Residents of Navangar, Hungund and Ilkal in Bagalkot district thronged grocery stores in large numbers to purchase salt. A grocer in Ilkal sold quintals of salt in a day. Some stores went out of stock and hence turned down the customers.
Similar was the scene in Bidar also. Some shopkeepers took advantage of the situation and jacked up price. A kilo of salt which usually cost Rs 15 was sold for Rs 25. However, by evening people heaved a sigh of relief after they came to know that the rumours about salt shortage were false.
There were complaints of merchants hoarding salt in Kushtagi town in Koppal district. Some complained that a kilo of salt was being sold for Rs 60 to Rs 70.
There was a huge rush to buy salt in Mysuru and Kalaburagi too.
Published 12 November 2016, 20:37 IST