Shops, business establishments shut shop early fearing unrest

The usually bustling NSC Bose Road, one of the key trading hubs in the city, saw traders shutting down by 5 pm. Ramesh B, who runs a 125-year-old establishment, said shops had started winding down as early as 4.30 pm. “Usually, shops in this locality stay open till 9 pm. But today, there were hardly any crowds. With the uncertainty of the CM’s condition, there were fewer people out today. The shops too, fearing for their safety, started closing early. We were one of the last ones to shut shop at 5.30 pm,” said the trader. In Broadway, too, the situation was similar. Kalam G, an employee at a trading unit said they decided to close early. “The traders in this area were not sure what to expect and there were so many rumours. We decided to close early, as some of the staff stayed in the suburbs and may face difficulty in getting back home,” he added. The impact was also felt by traders in other parts of the city. Akash P, an entrepreneur Arumbakkam, said he decided to shut early after the other shops started doing so. “Some of the people had warned us that it was unsafe to stay, considering the situation. Along with others, I too decided to call it a day and head back home early,” he concluded.