A month after the serial blasts in Delhi, the number of shoppers across the main Capital markets has seen an unprecedented dip. Despite a lot of companies offering whopping discounts, the pre-Diwali sales have gone down drastically. While customers are still wary of moving about freely, shopkeepers are uncertain if the festive season holds anything for them to cheer about.

GAFFAR MARKET, KAROL BAGH
Gaffar Market was the scene of maximum number of casualties in the September 13 attack. The once bustling and crowded market has seen a sharp drop in footfall since. “Sales have fallen and people still seem gripped in fear,” said Gurpreet Singh of Satnam Pagri Store.

“It is hard to believe that Navratras have just gone by and Diwali is round the corner. The sales are 50 per cent less than last year,” adds the owner of Shop Number 62.

And while many believe that the low turnout is because of the fear of a possible terrorist strike again, others attribute it to the slump in the stock market. “The pre-Diwali sales have been dampened by the fact that most of the shoppers are locals,” a shopkeeper on Arya Samaj Road said.

For the determined shopper, however, blasts are not a deterrent. Ira Sharma, who was in the market when the blasts happened, is back shopping, but: “The blasts have made me more alert. I now look around twice in a public place.”

To ensure security, volunteers, chosen from among the vendors, have been asked to keep vigil at every street. “Thirty-two such groups have been formed for the special market held on Monday, along with fifty for the daily market. In addition, a public address system has been put in place with 8-10 Delhi police personnel, supplemented by special forces, doing the rounds in the market,” said Amarjit Singh, HSPO, Karol Bagh. 

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