Swine Flu Affects Numaish Rush

Increasing number of swine flu deaths and positive cases in the state and particularly in the twin cities are deterring people from visiting Numaish, the All India Industrial Exhibition, thus affecting the business. During the last one week, the exhibition has seen a decline in the number of visitors as several deaths were reported in this period. Though the flu death was first reported in early December last, the number of visitors was voluminous as usual.

However, the volume of visitors started declining as the death toll of swine flu positive cases rose. According to sources, there has been a gradual decline in the number of visitors for the last three days. Generally, the peek business days at Exhibition start from January last week and remain till the end. The outbreak of swine flu causing deaths of several people seems to have hit the business at Exhibition. Usually, the number of visitors to the Exhibition ranges from 40 to 50,000 every day. On holidays, the footfall increases five thousands.

But due to the constant advertisement by the state government instructing people to avoid crowded places the number has decreased considerably. R Sukesh Reddy, a volunteer and security in charge at exhibition grounds said that during the last week the number of visitors came down by few thousands. He said, “Awareness campaign by the government over the swine flu resulted in decreasing the number of visitors to the exhibition. We have been observing for few days now that the volume of people coming here decreased.”

He however said that this decline in number would not affect the business in high volumes and expressed the hope that this situation would not remain for long. The stall owners in the exhibition appeared worried over the swine flu and government advisory for the people. The exhibition remains up to February 15.