Onion prices soar on drought, heavy rains; may breach Rs 100 per kg mark

August 13, 2013

New Delhi, Aug 13: The average wholesale price of onion has more than doubled since the beginning of this month and the vegetable is now selling at up to Rs 80 per kg in the city due to shortages blamed on excess monsoon rains destroying crops. Insiders in the trade say prices are not likely to reverse till around September-end . Prices are likely to stabilize this week but another surge is expected in the coming week.onion-selling

Onion prices double in 2 weeks

The average wholesale price of onion has more than doubled since the beginning of this month. A massive shortage, with most of the crop destroyed due to heavy monsoon showers, has resulted in onions touching an unbelievable retail rate of Rs 80 per kg in some parts of the city.

Experts say the trend is not likely to reverse any time soon and the earliest respite can be expected around the end of September. "The maximum price for onions was Rs 55 per kg on Monday morning. We are expecting prices to stabilize this week but another surge is expected in the coming week. Stocks are depleting very fast and no new stock is coming in. This situation will remain similar till it doesn't stop raining in Karnataka . Prices may fall around end-September ," said Surendra Sahani, proprietor of Gujarat Onion Company.

A slight fall in rates across the country was observed on Monday afternoon but they picked up again by evening. "There was a downward trend in the afternoon and prices fell by Rs 2-3 per kg. However, if it continues raining in south India, prices are likely to go up again," said Rajendra Sharma, chairman of APMC.

Delhi gets its onions from three states at this time. In Maharashtra, the wholesale price of onion was about Rs 50 per kg which, when brought to Delhi, went up by Rs 5 per kg after factoring in cost of transport and other overheads. In Rajasthan, the crop is at its fag end while in Madhya Pradesh only about 15% of the crop remains. "We should have started getting onion from Karnataka by now. Some has started coming in but most of it is very poor quality due to the rain. Karnataka is buying onions from MP and Maharashtra to meet its own demand , which could have otherwise been diverted to north India if Karnataka's own produce had been good," said Sahani. Wholesale onion prices at Lasalgaon market near Nashik touched an all-time high on Monday—Rs 4,300 per quintal—and have increased 25% in three days. Nashik onions are supplied to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune among other cities.

This year farmers in Rajasthan planted less onions, after suffering huge losses last year. "In 2012 there was a bumper crop of onions but most of it could not be sold and farmers suffered losses. Taking a cue from that, they planted less crop this time and that has added to the shortage," said sources.

With onions averaging Rs 48 per kg in the wholesale market on Monday, it was no surprise that the average price in the retail market went up to Rs 60. But, shopkeepers charged customers as they pleased since the retail price ranged from Rs 50 in parts of east Delhi to Rs 80 per kg in south Delhi.

"Onions are a staple item in north Indian cooking and we purchase about a kilogram of onions every three days. If prices stay the same, I will have to start cooking recipes that don't need onions . The government should step in and ensure that there is at least a uniform rate across the city instead of letting vendors charge any amount they like," said Sugandha Verma of Patparganj

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Agencies
June 7,2020

New Delhi, Jun 7: The Islamic Centre of India on Saturday issued an advisory for those visiting mosques in view of the Centre’s decision to allow reopening of religious places from June 8.

Islamic Centre of India chairman Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali advised people above 65 years and under 10 years of age not to visit mosques and instead offer prayers at home.

He also advised against crowding in mosques, stressing that not more than five people should be present at a time and social distancing be maintained, with the ‘namazis’ using masks and keeping a distance of six feet among themselves while offering prayers.

He added that the situation would be reviewed after 15 days and if required, another advisory would be issued.

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News Network
April 30,2020

Hyderabad, Apr 30: A 45-day-old baby boy, who tested positive for COVID-19 when he was 20-days-old, was discharged from a state-run hospital here on Wednesday after his full recovery.

The baby from Mahabubnagar, who contracted the infection from his father, was 20-days-old at the time of admission (on April 4), a COVID-19 bulletin said.

He was discharged after being cured, it said. The baby, probably the youngest to contract the infection in the country, was treated at the state-run Gandhi hospital in the city.

State Health Minister E Rajender expressed happiness over the baby being discharged after recovery.

An official release said 35 people were discharged today and 13 of them were children.

Those who were discharged thanked the doctors and medical personnel of the hospital and the minister has lauded the doctors and other medical staff for their efforts, it said.

Among those undergoing treatment at the hospital, 10 are being treated in the ICU.

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News Network
January 30,2020

New Delhi, Jan 30: Tension spiralled in Jamia Nagar on Thursday after a man fired a pistol at a group of anti-CAA protesters, injuring a Jamia Millia Islamia student before walking away while waving the firearm above his head and shouting "Yeh lo aazadi" amid heavy police presence in the area.

Massive protests erupted in the area after the incident with hundreds of agitated people gathering near the university, breaking barricades and clashing with police personnel.

The man, who identified himself as "Rambhakt Gopal", was subsequently overpowered by police and detained. He was taken into custody and was being interrogated, police said.

The entire drama, which triggered panic in the area, was captured by television cameras that showed the man in light coloured pants and a dark jacket, walking away on an empty road barricaded by police, turning around and shouting at the protesters in Hindi, "Here, take this freedom."

The gunman went live on Facebook before the brandishing the gun. Police said they were verifying whether it is his real name.

Before the attack, the man also put out messages on Facebook stating "Shaheen Bhag Khel Khatam" (Run Shaheen, the game is over). Another message stated, "Please wrap me in saffron in my last journey with slogans of Jai Shri Ram". His Facebook profile was deleted after screenshots of his posts were circulated widely on social media platforms.

Several students recapped how their peaceful march on Gandhi's death anniversary became violent.

"We were moving towards the Holy Family Hospital where the police had raised barricades. Suddenly, a gun-wielding man came out and opened fire. One bullet hit my friend's hand," Aamna Asif, a student of economics at the university, told PTI.

She said her friend, Shadab Farooq, a mass communication student, was trying to calm the attacker but he shot at him injuring his left hand.

Farooq, who belongs to Kashmir, was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Ragibh Naushad, an LLB student at the university, said, "The Jamia Coordination Committee organised a march to pay homage to Gandhi ji on his death anniversary. It started at 12 noon from Gate number 7, but police denied the permission and stopped the march near the Holy Family hospital.

"A man named Gopal, came there and started brandishing a weapon and later shot a round. He was also chanting pro-CAA slogans."

The incident led to panic in the area.

Khalid Hassan, a JMI alumnus, said initially many were not sure whether it was a gunshot or a tyre burst.

There was heavy police and media presence when the incident took place.

The students were heading from Jamia to Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat. The march was stopped at the Holy Family Hospital near the university.

Chinmoy Biswal, DCP (southeast), said the students wanted to take out a march from Jamia to Rajghat but were denied permission.

"They were being repeatedly told that the protest should be carried out peacefully. We had barricaded the road just before the Holy Family hospital. Meanwhile, a person was seen in the crowd who waved something which appeared to be a weapon."

"We have detained him and are interrogating him. One person has also been injured," Biswal said.

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