COVID-19 Impact: Severe Blow To Traders On Odisha Beaches

Puri: The ongoing pandemic situation has cast an adverse impact on the livelihood of scores of people engaged in different business at Puri, Konarak and Gopalpur beaches of Odisha.

Tourists and devotees have stopped coming to the pilgrimage town and therefore the golden beaches wear a deserted look. The makeshift traders doting all along the beaches have closed down their shops due to Covid restrictions.

The shops and other outlets in Konark have also met the same fate. Traders said their shops are covered with layers of sand and added that their families are going through utter penury due to the closure of business.

The situation in Gopalpur is also not better than these two beaches of Odisha. This is one of the most popular destinations for tourists from home and abroad. “We are living a distressed life due to pandemic,” they said and added that they are waiting with bated breath for the situation to become normal.

The traders have demanded that the government should provide them and their families assistance to wriggle out of the situation.

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