Prices of vegetables have started soaring as large parts of south Bengal continue to be under flood waters.

In almost all retail markets in the city, many varieties sold at nearly double what it was a week ago. Some others recorded a sharp rise.

Retailers fear the prices will continue to escalate ahead of the festive season when the supplies from the flood-hit districts dwindle further.

Among those that took the worst beating were pointed gourd, green chilli, lady’s finger and cucumber.

Across retail markets in Maniktala, Salt Lake, Gariahat and Behala, pointed
gourd sold between ₹60 and ₹70 per kg. A week ago, it sold at ₹30-40 a kilo.

Green chilli sold at ₹150 per kg on Saturday across most markets in the city. A week back it was ₹70-80 per kg, depending on the variety.

Lady’s finger — okra to many — sold at ₹80 a kilo. A few days back, it was priced at ₹40 per kg.

“The prices of certain vegetables came as a shocker. Last week, the bazaar was expensive. This week is worse. The household budget is going haywire at a time the festival season brings many added expenses,” said Anuradha Dutta, a homemaker who was at the Sovabazar market.

A young woman with a school-going child said in Behala: “A week back, the prices of vegetables were higher than usual. We thought it was because of Ranna Puja (cooking festival) rituals when some offer uncut vegetables to the gods. But it was unbelievable today. Taro root (kochu) sold at ₹80 per kg. It was ₹30 a week back.”

Over the past two days, parts of Bankura, East Burdwan, Hooghly, Howrah and East Midnapore have remained underwater.

The Damodar Valley Corporation’s Maithan dam released 2,00,000 cusecs of water on Tuesday morning and followed it with further releases on Wednesday and Thursday.

The impact has been felt in parts of Nadia, like Nabadwip and Shantipur, as well, senior state government officials said.

“Hooghly, East Burdwan and Nadia are key vegetable-producing districts in south Bengal apart from the North and South 24-Parganas. Several items like pointed gourd, pumpkin, green chilli and brinjal are sourced from these districts,” a state agriculture department official said.

“The floods have affected the supply of vegetables. We are yet to assess the extent of damage the inundation has caused to farmlands. The immediate priority is to make arrangements for relief and rehabilitation.”

The impact of flooding was felt in several markets on Saturday.

Pumpkin sold at ₹50 per kg against ₹30 a few days back. Tomatoes sold at ₹100 a kg, nearly double the price of what it was a week back at ₹60 per kg. Elephant foot yam, or ole, sold at ₹100 per kg against ₹60 last week.

“Prices of vegetables are likely to go up further in the run-up to Durga Puja when supplies from the districts would be hit. We have no idea how the markets will play out during the festive season,” said Chittaranjan Saha, a vegetable vendor at Gariahat market.