Flipkart temporarily suspends operations amid lockdown

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Mar 25, 2020

E-commerce giant Flipkart has temporarily shut down all operations as of Wednesday to observe India’s 21-day lockdown.

 
After facing logistical difficulties in transporting and delivering goods over the past few days as regional restrictions increased, Flipkart has decided to suspend its operations entirely during the 21-day lockdown, it announced on its website. Although e-commerce businesses are still officially allowed to deliver essential goods including food and pharmaceuticals, a number of online retailers have reported difficulties executing this. 
 
Walmart-owned Flipkart’s e-commerce store homepage now only features a message notifying customers of the situation and directs customers to a government health advisory on Covid-19 in place of its usual colourful promotions.

“Hello fellow Indians, We are temporarily suspending operations,” reads Flipkart’s message on its website. “Your needs have always been our priority and our promise is that we will be back to serve you, as soon as possible.”
 
Around one third of the world is currently under lockdown in the battle against coronavirus. Although essential services will be maintained in India, the government has listed strict legal penalties for citizens that break the curfew.