Mangaluru: Mangalureans are feeling the heat even as rain has slowed businesses in Bengaluru. Prices of vegetables in the city markets have escalated as incessant rain in the state capital has resulted in short supply of vegetables.

Rains in Bengaluru have a direct bearing on vegetable prices in Mangaluru as merchants here procure vegetables from farmers of Bengaluru Rural and Chikkamagaluru districts. Hopcoms have singled out rain as the reason for the surge in vegetable prices. The prices of many vegetables procured from Bengaluru Rural district have seen a sharp up move between October 2 and 14 owing to rains.

Coriander drilled the biggest hole in the pockets of people in the city. While one bundle of coriander cost Rs 70 at Hopcoms here on October 2, the price stood at a whopping Rs 170 on Saturday, an increase of Rs 100 per bundle in just 12 days.Local vendors in the city sold the vegetable for as much as Rs 240/kg. On Saturday, long beans at Hopcoms sold at Rs 70 per kg on Saturday while it was only Rs 45 on October 2. Beans during the same period got dearer by Rs 15 from Rs 40/kg on October 2 to Rs 55/kg on Saturday. Tomato prices have also gone up by Rs 9.

Suresh, in-charge of Hopcoms go-downs in Mangaluru, said prices are expected to remain at the same range for the next few days. “The prices will come down only when rain recedes in Bengalur and surrounding areas,” he added. David D’Souza, a merchant at the Central Market for 42 years, said about 10-12 lorries, each carrying around 12 tonnes of vegetables, arrive from Bengaluru at the market every day.