PRAYAGRAJ: With the rush of devotees for Maha Kumbh leading to ‘unofficial’ closure of the wholesale medicine market in Prayagraj, the city is facing a crisis of medicines, including life-saving drugs, but the authorities have so far ignored the SOS messages from traders.
Leader Road, which happens to be the wholesale medicines hub, falls on the busiest path from Sangam towards the railway station. Therefore, the entry of trucks carrying supplies is prohibited and since mid-Jan, the market has been unable to operate properly due to the unabated flow of devotees. As a result, the medicine stocks, especially of BP, heart diseases and diabetes, are nearly exhausted at both wholesalers and retailers.
Anil Dubey, who heads the Allahabad chemist and druggist association, told TOI, “Since Jan 24, traders in the wholesale drug business have not been able to operate their business properly, which has led to a huge gap between demand and supply.”
Traders complained the supply chain had been hit as trucks carrying even drugs are not allowed to enter the city limits. “Association members have made several attempts to convey the shortage of drugs to the district authorities concerned, but in vain,” Dubey said. No transporter is ready to book medicine consignments to Leader Road due to the strict measures of police and district authorities, he added.
Govt authorities, however, shrugged off the crisis and said there was no official order for the closure of the market.