The authorities in Delhi and other parts of northern India are trying to stop the panic buying of salt, which has become the latest food item to see a sharp rise in price.

The BBC Delhi correspondent says the rush to buy salt appears to have been prompted by reports of shortages in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Similar problems have affected onions, potatoes and tomatoes in recent weeks, with emergency supplies of onions having to be brought in from Central Asia to ease the crisis.

The chief minister of Delhi, Sushma Swaraj, has said the shortages are part of a political conspiracy by opponents of the governing BJP, trying to damage the party before elections later this month.