Nipah Scare Hits Jaggery Sales: Kakdwip Sellers Clarify Virus Safety

• Sales of jaggery and date palm sap have significantly dropped in Kakdwip due to Nipah virus fears.
• Jaggery sellers assert that the virus cannot survive in jaggery as it is made by boiling sap at high temperatures, which destroys any pathogens.
• To prevent bat contamination, nets are now being used to cover earthen pots collecting sap, as explained by producer Banshi Mondal.
• Despite reassurances, consumers like Samir Das remain hesitant, avoiding sap and jaggery purchases this year.
• The reduced demand for date palm jaggery, a winter staple for 'pithe-puli', is causing problems for traders, highlighting the need for awareness over panic.

Why It Matters: Nipah virus fears are impacting jaggery sales in Kakdwip, despite sellers clarifying the product's safety.