Coronavirus now has an unlikely victim. Imported Chinese sprinklers and water guns that flood the market ahead of Holi are conspicuous by their absence this time.

Though the festival of colour is just a few days away, most retailers have not stocked up on Chinese sprinklers and water guns that have a good demand.

Even colours imported from China, which are a big hit among revellers, are difficult to spot in the market.

Vinod Kumar Katial, who runs a toy shop at Bistupur market and also sells Holi wares, said he would have to rely on indigenous colours and sprinklers this year.

“Usually retailers start stocking up on Chinese pichkaris much before the festival, but I used to procure the stock from Delhi a bit late. I had placed an order for Chinese pichkaris to a firm in Delhi, but was disappointed when the wholesale dealer said the stock had got exhausted and no fresh consignment was likely to come soon because of complications following the outbreak of coronavirus,” Katial said.

He said he had ordered traditional pichkaris that the children were not quite fond of these days.

“I have ordered traditional water guns from Calcutta. For colours, I have contacted a supplier from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh,” Katial said.

Md Shahnawaz, who also used to sell Chinese sprinklers and water guns, said he had purposely avoided stocking up on them.

“I am not going to keep stock of Chinese pichkaris because I feel the parents will not prefer any item imported from China to be handed over to their children for Holi because of coronavirus,” Shahnawaz said.

District civil surgeon Maheswar Prasad said there was no reason to avoid Chinese pichkaris or colour during Holi. “No virus can survive for long in any plastic item or colour especially if they are imported from somewhere as far as China. The fear of getting infected with coronavirus through pichkaris or colour is baseless,” Prasad said.