While the wedding season refers to good business for jewellery and grocery shops, both these markets in Kanpur have pulled down their shutters, given the volatile rise in coronavirus cases. City vendors here have prioritised health and safety over trade and several markets have remained shut since Monday. Reportedly, these establishments will remain closed till April 25.

Over 3000 shops closed in Kanpur to curb COVID rise

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Several market associations in Kanpur had reached out to the government on Sunday, with requests for a lockdown, keeping the grave pandemic situation in mind. However, the wholesale market imposed a voluntary shutdown on Monday, given that no state decision or order was passed. From Tuesday, bullion traders across the city and grocery stores in Nayaganj have inflicted closure as well.

This decision has been made keeping last year's situation in mind, when the first wave of coronavirus infected several traders. Now with the advent of a second wave, markets in Kanpur have been compelled to shut down in spite of the wedding revenue season. There are around two thousand small shops at the Sarafa Bazar, whose operations will remain hampered due to the COVID surge.

By default, the work of artisans supplying to these markets will also be affected due to no order or demands. Similarly, there are about one and a half thousand shops in the grocery markets, that will have to go through the same fate. Apart from these, Hatia's iron market, Sarojini Nagar's machinery market and Ghumani Bazaar business committee have also been closed since Monday. Starting today, galla mandis will also be closed.