Onion prices is north bound because of heavy rainfall in Nashik and Indore, from where the vegetable is supplied to the city.

Onion, which was sold at Rs 20/kg on Monday, was being retailed at Rs 28-30/kg on Tuesday in markets at Harmu, Argora, Ashok Nagar, Morabadi, Birsa Chowk, Bahu Bazaar Chowk, Lalpur, Naga Baba Khatal and in other parts of the city. The sudden price rise has made homemakers sit up and take control of the house budget, as onion is an important ingredient for cooking and serving salads.

“During the Shravan month, we avoid onion and garlic. Soon after Shravan ended, onion was back in the menu and now its price has risen sharply. Now, I have to use it judiciously,” said Manju Kumari, a homemaker at Harmu.

Renu Singh, a homemaker at Kishoreganj, believes the house spending would rise sharply because of the short supply. “Onion is a must for cooking non-vegetarian dishes. At my house non-vegetarian dishes are cooked every day except Thursdays. On Tuesday, onions were sold at Rs 30/kg in my locality. I purchase 1kg every day. Earlier, I had to spend Rs 600 a month for onions now I will have to spare Rs 900,” Singh said.

Manju Lata Mishra, a homemaker from Vidyanagar, was seen purchasing the vegetable at Naga Baba Khatal, for Rs 28/kg. “What to do prices of everything is escalating. It has become difficult to buy onions these days,” Mishra said.

Retailer Bablu Kumar of Harmu, however, said he is helpless because of external factors. “When we purchase onion at Rs 2,400/quintal how can we sell it at less than Rs 30/kg?” he asked.

A wholesaler at Pandra market, Anil Prasad Sahu, said the situation would persist. “The situation will prevail for at least 10 days, as there is a problem in transportation besides stocks are rotting because of rain. The average consumption of the city is 5,000kg/day and this quantity is not coming to the city every day,” Sahu said.

On local supply, Sahu said: “Very less after Monday’s heavy rain.”