New Delhi: The prices of onions continue to rise sharply across various states in India in the wake of excess monsoon rains in the major growing states. The crunch in onion supply has sent prices soaring with many places seeing an increase of nearly Rs 30-40 per kg. Even the rates have gone up to Rs 80 per kg in some parts of the country. As per the report, the trade data showed retail onion prices skyrocketing to Rs 70-80 per kg towards the end of the last week from Rs 50-60/kg in the previous week. As prices of onions soared drastically over the past week, people in several parts of the country including Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, Bhopal Ludhiana and Odisha are feeling the pinch.

Onion prices are reported to be around Rs 80 per kg in Lucknow, while it's Rs 70 per kg in Prayagraj. People in the national capital are forced to buy the staple at Rs 60-70 per kg. However, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said his government is procuring the vegetable and will try to supply it at Rs 24 per kg through mobile vans, amid rising onion prices. He added that tenders have been floated it.

Meanwhile, people were troubled by high prices of Onion in Patna as well where it has risen to Rs 55 per kg. The onion prices in Bhopal have risen to Rs 70 per kg and the prices of other vegetables have also risen drastically. In Ludhiana onions are priced at Rs 60 per kilo.

Onion brought tears to consumers with steep rise of its prices by Rs 50 to 60 in Odisha markets following massive floods in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

WATCH | Rising onion prices bring tears to eyes



Amid the reports of price rise of onions in several parts of the country, Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday said the Centre is ready to provide buffer stock of onion to the states to check price rise. He warned hoarders and black marketers of strict action as onion prices soared across the country due to supply disruptions due to floods in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and some southern states.

Meanwhile, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (Nafed) has boosted supplies of onion to government agencies which have started selling it in open market at low prices. People queued up outside the Agriculture Ministry here on Tuesday, to buy onions at Rs 24 per kg. "In our area, onion is selling at Rs 60-70. Here I can buy it for Rs 24 per kg. Its a big relief," said a woman standing in the queue.

According to sources in agricultural produce market committee of Azadpur (APMC) mandi, the onions sold at Rs 22.50-42.50 per kg in wholesale market.

(With inputs from agencies)