The country is already reeling in the pressure to exchange Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes and now another panic stirred by rumors of a probable salt shortage in Uttar Pradesh has put citizens at worry.

As per one account the price of salt could shot as high as Rs 250 for a killo while another account says it could cost as much as Rs 400 per kg. An alert has been raised in this regard not to pay attention to such rumor mongering.

The Lucknow district magistrate Satyendra Singh, however, has discarded these rumours, assuring netizens that there is no shortage in the state. “We will arrest the rumour mongers,” the DM said. “Kindly do not pay any attention to the rumours and help us maintain law and order,” the Inspector General of Lucknow Zone appealed to people.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said there was no shortage of salt. He further urged people not to pay attention to rumours.

In a series of tweets, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman too said there was no shortage of edible salt. “Baseless rumours being spread. Salt Commissioner & Jt. Secretary Shri Raghavendra monitoring the situation. Asst.Salt Commissioners reporting from the field. No shortage. Monitoring will be on-going,” she tweeted.