LUCKNOW, May 20 -- Medical stores across Lucknow remained shut on Wednesday as chemists and drug traders staged a protest against the online sale of medicines by e-pharmacy platforms, leaving many residents struggling to purchase medicines from local markets.

Shops in major medicine hubs, including Aminabad, Charbagh, Chowk and Nishatganj, remained closed since morning as part of a 24-hour nationwide strike called by trader bodies.

Traders' organisations claimed that nearly 12.5 lakh medical stores across Uttar Pradesh supported the bandh, raising concerns over unregulated online medicine sales and the impact of deep discounting on conventional pharmacy businesses.

Under the banner of the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggist...