New Delhi: With the city enveloped in a haze, the demand for pollution aids is rising. According to chemists at Yusuf Sarai, Khan Market, Connaught Place and Khanna Market in various parts of the capital, the demand for N95 masks has gone up in the past few days. The sellers expect sales to increase in the coming days.
A shop in Connaught Place has placed fresh orders for N95 masks. “Although we have surgical masks in stock, buyers are seeking N95 masks,” said a trader there.
However, many people are using surgical masks, made ubiquitous by the Covid pandemic, because it is very affordable though they aren’t effective in shielding people against respirable pollutants. Opposite AIIMS at Safdarjung Medicos, shopkeeper Javed said. “People are opting for cheaper surgical masks. We don’t recommend its use, but it is cheaper,” the shopkeeper said. “More awareness about masks is required.” Here, as on Aurobindo Marg, which is lined with chemist stores, the shop workers were all seen wearing pollution masks.
But demand for the N95 mask is slowly gathering strength. “Our supply is short,” admitted a salesman at Chawla Chemist in Yusuf Sarai, where medical shops abound due to the area’s proximity to AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital. “People are asking for N95 masks, but our stocks have been hit by the supplier having some problems. Some people are also bringing doctor-recommended prescriptions to fight pollution.”
At Khan Market, catering to an upscale clientele, Ishwinder, owner of Preet Medicos, said “We have registered rising sales in masks for the last two to three days in tune with the pollution level soaring. We sell 25-30 masks every day and have ordered more N95 masks because we expect customers will want to buy them.”
In the market, not everyone had their mouth and noses protected. “People are asking for allergy, cough and throat irritation medicines, but only the aware seem to also want to buy N95 masks,” said Chandan at another chemist shop.
At Khanna Market, medicine sellers reported a pickup in sales of pollution masks. Mukesh Rawat, owner of MSP Pharmacy, said, “There is definitely a demand for masks. We are selling around 30 pieces a day at Rs 50. We also expect the demand to go up.”
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