Ramnagar fish market a ticking time bomb as people crowd on the eve of Mrigasira Karthi

Hyderabad: The Ramnagar fish market, the largest fish bazaar in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, witnessed hordes of people thronging the place, flouting social distancing norms, on the eve of Mrigasira Karthi day. Even as the annual fish prasadam distribution by Bathini brothers on the Mrigasira Karthi day (falling on June 8) was cancelled this year, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the fish market has become a ticking time bomb with crowds gathering to buy fish at this time of the year.

Mrigasira Karthi, considered auspicious by the Hindus, marks the beginning of the sun sign Mrigasira, and the end of summer. Consuming fish on this day is considered auspicious. People also make jaggery and asafoetida into balls and consume them, in the hope of boosting their immunity.

The annual fish prasadam distribution by the Bathini brothers in Hyderabad, a well-known practice that is known to cure asthma is scheduled on Mrigasira day. The distribution of this medicine has been cancelled this year, announced Bathini Harinath Goud on May 11.

Scenes from Hyderabad' Ram Nagar fish market on June 7th. It is pertinent to mention that,Telangana went from 113 to 123 COVID deaths in 24 hours, the highest recorded ever since the pandemic broke out in the state. The new COVID cases 206 saw an all time single-day jump. pic.twitter.com/ZkrF3UZe4r

— NewsMeter (@NewsMeter_In) June 7, 2020

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Flouting restrictions

Being one of the auspicious times of the year to consume fish, several citizens flocked to Ramnagar fish market on Sunday, only to find the market already crowded. A video of the market shows how people are standing close to each other, waiting for their turn at the fish vendors to buy their share.

Speaking to NewsMeter, Musheerabad station house officer T. Murali Krishna said, “We have received information of the crowds at Ramnagar fish market. We have deployed a few policemen in the area to ensure that citizens follow social distancing norms and the situation is under control.”

Novel Coronavirus is believed to have originated from one of the ‘wet markets’ or seafood markets in China’s Wuhan. With Telangana registering 10 Covid-9 deaths in the last 24 hours, the highest recorded ever since the pandemic broke out in the state, there is a need for precautions to be followed. The new Covid-19 cases in Telangana saw an all time

single-day jump, 206 fresh cases were recorded in 24 hours, on June 6, according to the latest health bulletin.

The surge in number is directly proportionate to the increase in public movement, the government said. In an official communication, the government said, “It was observed that there is a surge of cases in most of the districts across the state. In view of the rise in number of cases, public is requested to be alert and self-vigilant for any signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).”