ATMs begin to run dry; people stalk up essentials during relaxed curfew hours in Guwahati

People in Guwahati made most of the relaxed curfew hours on Sunday stalking up vegetables and other daily essentials even as ATMs and petrol pumps began to run dry at several places.

In some relief to residents, markets at many places were open till 6.00 pm and prices of vegetables and fruits came down a bit compared to the rates a day before, and police authorities had allowed shops to run only till 4.00 pm before resuming the curfew tightly.

According to an official, curfew was relaxed from 9 am to 6 pm in Guwahati.

However, many shops and markets from Hatigaon to Ganeshguri remained closed in Guwahati, as the indefinite curfew entered its fifth day.

At the GMC market in Ganeshguri, locals were seen buying large stalks of vegetables and fruits and daily usage items like flour, dal, sugar, bread, milk and eggs.

"Prices are less compared to what it was yesterday, and much less than what was it on Wednesday and Thursday when the protest had peaked. Rates of potato are a bit high but ..