PRAYAGRAJ, May 21 -- Most medicine shops across Prayagraj city and rural areas remained closed on Wednesday following a call for a shutdown by the Allahabad Chemist and Druggist Association and the Chemist and Druggist Association (Retail). The traders were protesting against online medicine sales and e-pharmacies. Medicine traders took out a rally from Leader Road to Balson Crossing and held demonstrations and meetings at several places. Traders estimated that the strike affected business worth nearly Rs.25 crore. All 300 wholesale medicine shops on Leader Road remained shut, while most stores in the Balson market area also downed shutters. However, more than three dozen shops near Swaroop Rani Nehru Medical College remained open. Generic medicine stores, Apollo Pharmacy outlets, and Dawa India stores also continued operations, providing some relief to patients. Several neighbourhood medical stores reopened later in the evening. The rally was led by association leaders Anil Dubey and Rana Chawla and witnessed participation from a large number of medicine traders. Addressing the gathering, Anil Dubey said illegal e-pharmacies were a major concern and medicines were being sold online without proper regulation. The strike also received support from the Allahabad Nursing Home and Private Doctors Welfare Association. Association member Dr Alok Mishra said private nursing home operators backed the demands raised by medicine traders. Meanwhile, the shutdown caused inconvenience to patients and attendants visiting Prayagraj from neighbouring districts, especially at Balson Crossing, one of the city's major medicine markets. A woman was seen waiting since morning near Civil Lines Crossing hoping the shops would open, but later returned after learning about the strike. However, shops near SRN Hospital remaining open provided some relief to critically ill patients. Ajay Kumar from the trans-Ganga area of Handia said he had come to Balson Crossing to buy heart medicines but found all shops closed....