Saturday, October 22 2005 17:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Prices of onion shot up to Rs 20-25 per kilogram, an increase of Rs 7-8 per kg in the last four days in the metropolis, with vendors expecting no easing in the prices in the coming week.

Potato prices also shot up to Rs 8 per kg from Rs 6.50 per kg in local markets.

Vegetable vendors said today (Oct 22, 2005) that following loss of crop due to floods in Maharashtra, supplies from Nasik had suffered. Supplies were now coming mostly from Andhra Pradesh.

The prices of other vegetables, they said were yet to register any significant gain, but were likely to increase before Diwali if the heavy rains continued.

The administration has asked the police to be vigilant against hoarding because of the hike in vegetable prices, official sources said.

They said the West Bengal Government was aware of the situation and had asked the administration to keep a watch on the market.