Srinagar, Apr 30: The markets across Kashmir which were remaining abuzz ahead of Eid-ul-Fit are witnessing less flow of people and very little enthusiasm with people citing inflation and back to back lockdowns as the reasons that have “broke the back” of poor and middle class people.

Shopkeepers across Kashmir said that after two-three years they were expecting huge rush and good sale ahead of Eid but due to inflation people are unable to buy things this year.

Javaid Ahmad, a shopkeeper from Lal Chowk in Anantnag, who deals with ready- made garments said that market is down and very little people are thronging to markets and most of the visitors just come to buy items they require in day-to-day life, nothing else.

“Usually, around a dozen customer visit our shops on daily basis which has increased to around 20 but ahead of Eid hundreds of customers were visiting our shops but that is not the case this year,” he said. “Zahoor Ahmad, a shopkeeper from Amira Kadal area of Srinagar said that large number of people are thronging to the market but due to inflation they are unable to buy what they want and they return home.”

He said: “A person takes an amount and thinks that he will buy three four items from it but once he reaches market he is unable to even buy a single item from it, such is rate of inflation.”

Traders from other areas also echoed same voice and said after three years Eid is being celebrated without restrictions and were expecting good sale this year but inflation has pinched poor people very much and they are taking only important items to meet their two ends.

They said that the dent caused to “our economy since 2019 due to clampdown followed by back to back lockdowns is coming to fore now as it has made poor people poorer and they are struggling to meet their two ends.”

“Constant price rise is hitting the common man where it hurts the most and the administration has failed to take meaningful steps to curb the trend,” they said.

It has wreaked havoc on people, particularly daily wagers, hawkers, labourers, middle, BPL and salaried classes and depleted their savings. In Lal Chowk, Srinagar very little rush of people was seen on roads which otherwise presented a bustling look ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

As per Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s report on monthly retail inflation, J&K has an inflation rate of 7.59 percent which is even higher than the national inflation rate of 6.95 percent. kno