By Mouli Mareedu
After the Mumbai terror attacks, many Hyderbadis prefer to stay at home rather than risk lives by going to shopping malls, cinemas or pubs.
Though Mumbai returned to normalcy within days after the November 26 terror attacks, fear still grips Hyderabadis. Even after a fortnight, the Hyderabadis are still haunted and the December 3 firing of four suspected terrorists on the Counter Intelligence personnel in the city have heightened the anxiety.
Leopold Café in Mumbai was opened within days and one could see people walking in for a cup of coffee and plans are also on to reopen Trident before Christmas. But the people of Hyderabad are still keeping away from public places. Shopping malls, cinema theaters, pubs and restaurants in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are bearing the brunt of the terror attacks. With only minimum numbers many public places are wearing a deserted look in the weekends.
“Yes, people are hesitating to venture out for shopping or to any other entertainment place. Even regular mall shoppers are thinking twice to shop at malls in fear of any impending attack or blasts by terrorists. This has affected our business a lot,” said Aswin, Manager, Max retail show room at City Centre.
Speaking to Deccan Post, Aswin said that Max retail shop was planning to introduce discount offers and organise events to draw in the customers with festive season ahead. “A few days ago, nearly 1500-1700 customers would visit the Max retail shop daily but the business went into a slump with only 500 to 600 customers after the terrorist attacks. We hope with our discount plans, we could see a huge rush of customers again with the festive season fast approaching,” he said.
Even popular shopping malls like Big Bazaar and Hyderabad Central are also witnessing the same situation. Sabina Ahmed, 24-year-old BPO employee told this correspondent at Hyderabad Central at Punjagutta, “I fear visiting any shopping mall after the terror attack. It happened in Mumbai, it can happen here or anywhere in the country and our twin cities are quite known for bomb blasts like the Lumbini and Gokul Chat blast last year. In spite of that I had come as I had to buy a present for my friend's birthday.”
Though pubs and theatres have increased the security measures, people are still keeping away from these places. “Even after we have increased security precautions to avoid any possible attacks, frequent movie-goers are staying away from theatres. Many seats are not filled even for a new film,” said the PVR Cinema staff.
“Why do we visit theatres and pubs when we do not know when, where and how the city could be attacked,” asks Manish Sarma, a senior marketing executive in a private company. He opined that it is better to stay at home after work than go to any public place or pubs or theatres and risk once life.
But the owner of a famous pub in Banjara Hills has a different hope on his business. He hopes for a demand in his sale despite such fear with Christmas and New Year ahead.
After the Mumbai terror attacks, many Hyderbadis prefer to stay at home rather than risk lives by going to shopping malls, cinemas or pubs.
Though Mumbai returned to normalcy within days after the November 26 terror attacks, fear still grips Hyderabadis. Even after a fortnight, the Hyderabadis are still haunted and the December 3 firing of four suspected terrorists on the Counter Intelligence personnel in the city have heightened the anxiety.
Leopold Café in Mumbai was opened within days and one could see people walking in for a cup of coffee and plans are also on to reopen Trident before Christmas. But the people of Hyderabad are still keeping away from public places. Shopping malls, cinema theaters, pubs and restaurants in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are bearing the brunt of the terror attacks. With only minimum numbers many public places are wearing a deserted look in the weekends.
“Yes, people are hesitating to venture out for shopping or to any other entertainment place. Even regular mall shoppers are thinking twice to shop at malls in fear of any impending attack or blasts by terrorists. This has affected our business a lot,” said Aswin, Manager, Max retail show room at City Centre.
Speaking to Deccan Post, Aswin said that Max retail shop was planning to introduce discount offers and organise events to draw in the customers with festive season ahead. “A few days ago, nearly 1500-1700 customers would visit the Max retail shop daily but the business went into a slump with only 500 to 600 customers after the terrorist attacks. We hope with our discount plans, we could see a huge rush of customers again with the festive season fast approaching,” he said.
Even popular shopping malls like Big Bazaar and Hyderabad Central are also witnessing the same situation. Sabina Ahmed, 24-year-old BPO employee told this correspondent at Hyderabad Central at Punjagutta, “I fear visiting any shopping mall after the terror attack. It happened in Mumbai, it can happen here or anywhere in the country and our twin cities are quite known for bomb blasts like the Lumbini and Gokul Chat blast last year. In spite of that I had come as I had to buy a present for my friend's birthday.”
Though pubs and theatres have increased the security measures, people are still keeping away from these places. “Even after we have increased security precautions to avoid any possible attacks, frequent movie-goers are staying away from theatres. Many seats are not filled even for a new film,” said the PVR Cinema staff.
“Why do we visit theatres and pubs when we do not know when, where and how the city could be attacked,” asks Manish Sarma, a senior marketing executive in a private company. He opined that it is better to stay at home after work than go to any public place or pubs or theatres and risk once life.
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