The panic buying and hoarding of salt has prompted action by the authorities in Delhi and other parts of northern India.

Salt is the latest commodity to see a sharp price rise ahead of elections later this month, following increases in the price of onions, potatoes, tomatoes and other essentials of the Indian diet.

Polling for the administration that runs Delhi and three state assemblies takes place in the last week of November. The spurt in onion prices to anything up to 10 times their normal price continues to be the biggest issue, with emergency imports from Central Asia now entering the market in an effort to placate consumers.

The rush to buy salt, especially from outlets in Delhi, appears to have been prompted by reports of shortages and rising prices in the eastern state of Bihar and Delhi's neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.

Shops were soon running out of stock, further inflaming the rumours of a salt crisis.

Delhi is governed by the Hindu nationalist BJP that also heads the central government. Delhi's Chief Minister, Sushma Swaraj, claimed that a conspiracy was afoot to defame the BJP ahead of the elections. There was no shortage of salt, she insisted, and she promised tough action against rumour-mongers, hoarders and black marketeers.