While the entire world is facing a serious threat, it is our duty as a species, to help out in any way we can. Especially in Nepal, where we're dependent upon other countries for most of our basic requirements including foods & medicines, the outbreak of COVID-19 adds to the severity of impending doom.So here, we are listing out a bunch of online shopping portals that are still delivering goods in the time of lockdown. But remember, these platforms are only keeping their shop open for the most essential goods which include groceries, vegetables, fruits, and medicines. And sadly, in most cases, the radius of delivery is limited to the Kathmandu valley only.Furthermore, you need not worry about a possible virus transmission because all of the companies in this list have been granted permission for operation by the Nepal government, and the delivery personnel will be equipped with all the safety gear (PPE) & other precautionary measures. Also, all of them accept online payment options like eSewa, Khalti, bank payments, etc. so you can stay worry-free about the spread of COVID-19 virus through physical currency.

Groceries & similar essential goods

1. Daraz (w/ Bigmart)

I don't think I need to introduce Daraz to you guys. As the biggest e-commerce platform of the country, the company has now teamed up with Bigmart, which is a major player in Nepal's brick and mortar shopping industry to deliver select essential items. These items include but are not limited to: rice, noodles, oil, sanitational utilities, etc.On top of this, Daraz is also offering a bank discount of up to Rs. 500 when making payments using cards of banks like Nabil, Kumari, Sunrise, Sanima, NIC Asia, and Standard Chartered. In terms of delivery, Daraz is currently serving all areas inside Ringroad, plus following locations with free delivery on orders above Rs. 1,500: You can place your order through Daraz's website or app (Android | iOS).

2. Sastodeal

Sastodeal is another reputed online shopping platform in Nepal. Like Daraz, the company is also only dealing with delivering essential goods right now. Besides the food essentials, Sastodeal is also providing deliveries on items like sanitizers, induction cookers, personal hygiene essentials, etc. The minimum cart value of the order has been set to Rs. 1,000.The company is currently delivering in select areas inside ring-road and about KM radius outside the ring-road too. In terms of payment, though the cash-on-delivery option is still available, Sastodeal has made the online payment more lucrative by introducing policies like:

• 15% of total purchase amount made through NMB Bank going to COVID-19 Aid fund
• 10 masks on every order using CellPay QR Payment on delivery
• Rs. 250 on every payment made through IMEPay for the corona relief fund

For now, Sastodeal is delivering on the following locations: You can place your order through Sastodeal's website.

3. Kirana

Next up is Kirana. Like others on the list, it is also accepting orders of essential products food, beverages, personal sanitation, etc. The company is only delivering for customers inside Kathmandu valley for now, which may take a couple of days. Also, the delivery charge is exempted for orders above Rs. 2,000, though a minimum order value hasn't been set. Kirana customers can also enjoy discounts by making payments from mobile banking apps, or cards of select banks like Civil, NIC Asia, and Standard Chartered.You can place your order through Kirana's website or app (Android | iOS).

4. Nimbus Bazar

Nimbus Bazar is a relatively new venture that's hoping to make a mark on Nepal's grocery shopping. Currently, the system is in its beta stage and only offers its services inside the Kathmandu valley. You can order items like edible oil, flour, lentils, rice, masks, dog foods, etc. from the platform. So, something for your pet too! This one hasn't set a minimum order value as well. In terms of the delivery charge, the company charges a whopping Rs. 200 for every order below Rs. 2,000.You can place your order through Nimbus Bazar's website.

5. SmartDoko

A product of IMS Group, SmartDoko is mostly known for electronic products, though it has been selling a wide variety of products. And right now, the company is only dealing with grocery and similar essential products. Like others on the list, the service is only available inside Kathmandu valley, with a minimum order value of Rs. 1,000. Moreover, people staying abroad can also have an order delivered to their loved ones in Kathmandu by making pre-payment using their Visa or Mastercard.You can place your order through SmartDoko's website or app (Android | iOS).

6. Thulo

Moving on, the next entry on this list is Thulo. Currently, the company is only accepting orders for grocery items like flour, rice, lentils, oil, poultry, etc. and certain electronic items like induction cookers. The minimum amount of order is Rs. 1,000, with free delivery. However, payment has to be made in advance. Talking about the delivery, Thulo currently delivers within Ringroad and 2km radius from the Ringroad and Kathmandu valley, on the same or next day.You can place your order through Thulo's website or app (Android | iOS).

7. Gyapu

Another online shopping platform offering its service during the lockdown is Gyapu. Like others, the company is also delivering food and other kitchen essential items during the lockdown. It includes goods like vegetables, flour, induction cooker, salt, biscuit, etc. Right now, they're home delivering inside the Kathmandu valley; namely Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur. Here, the company has set the minimum order amount at Rs. 1,000 with zero delivery charge and 24-hour delivery.You can place your order through Gyapu's website or call or WhatsApp them on 9801888268.

8. SalesBerry

SalesBerry is a well-established retail store in Nepal. And because of the lockdown, it has closed shop in most of its branches, though a few of them are still open from 10 AM to 2 PM - SalesBerry Satdobato, Sitapaila, and Maharajgunj. However, we're talking about home delivery options here. Using the company's online portal, customers from Kathmandu and Lalitpur can order essential items like grocery, frozen food, snacks, dairy, etc. The minimum amount of order is set at Rs. 2,000 with Rs. 100 delivery charge levied on every order.If possible, you can make your purchases visiting the open SalesBerry store, or place an order through its website.Also read: Smartphone brands extend warranty period amidst the lockdown

9. Bhatbhateni

Bhatbhateni is one of Nepal's largest retail chains with over a dozen stores spread throughout the country. As a result, it is one of the few companies delivering goods outside of Kathmandu valley too. Here, Bhatbhateni is also serving customers on Pokhara, Chitwan, Bhairahawa, Butwal, Biratnagar, and Nepalgunj. However, it isn't exactly budget-friendly as only orders amounting to Rs. 5,000 or more are accepted with free delivery. Similarly, the company is providing a limited number of same-day deliveries of orders received between 9 AM and 4 PM. Therefore, if your order is not acknowledged on the same day, Bhatbhateni has stated that you should send a message the day after.The company doesn't have a web portal, so customers have been requested to place an order via text message, Viber, Instagram, or WhatsApp (only one) on the numbers: 9801241449 | 9801234861 | 9801246806 | or 9801118837.

10. Durbar Mart

Another online shopping platform delivering essential goods during the time of lockdown is Durbar Mart. You can find items like hand sanitizers, kitchen essentials (induction cooker), etc. on top of the regular grocery items. The company is only delivering inside Kathmandu for orders amounting to at least Rs. 1,000 or more.You can place your order through Durbar Mart's website.

Summary list of online shopping platforms delivering groceries and similar essential items during the COVID-19 lockdown

Vegetables, fruits, & poultry

1. Foodmandu

Foodmandu is typically known for its on-demand ready-to-eat food delivery services from a wide selection of hotels and restaurants across the Kathmandu valley. However, the company has shifted its service to taking orders for vegetables, poultry, dairy, and bakery items right now under the "Foodmandu Fresh" banner. With the delivery period set within 4 days, Foodmandu is taking orders from 12 noon and has set the minimum order value at Rs. 1,500 while the delivery charges vary according to the customer's location.You can place your order through Foodmandu's website or app (Android | iOS).

2. Bhojdeals (w/ KK Super Mart)

Like how Daraz partnered up with Bigmart, Bhojdeals (a well-established food delivery platform like Foodmandu) has teamed up with another popular retail chain in the country - KK Super Mart. The company is currently delivering essential items like food, groceries, personal sanitation, induction cooker, on top of fresh vegetables and dairy products. As of now, Bhojdeals is serving customers on Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur for orders amounting to at least Rs. 1,000. The company says delivery could take somewhere between 2 and 3 days with the first-come-first-serve rule applied. Rs. 100 is levied for each order.You can place your order through Bhojdeal's website or app (Android | iOS).

3. Kathmandu Organics

Kathmandu Organics is another company that deals with fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, poultry, and other local grocery items. Its operational area is within the Kathmandu valley. Right now, the company is taking orders for cart values of Rs. 1,500 or more with Rs. 150 added as the delivery charge. Kathmandu Organics says the delivery could take up to 4 days as they are operating with limited resources.You can place your order through Kathmandu Organic's website.

4. Kheti

Next up is Kheti. Dealing in locally produced fruits, vegetables, and vegan dairy items, Kheti has partnered up with Upaya:CityCargo for delivering those products to its consumers at the time of this crisis. The company is currently accepting orders valued at Rs. 500 and more with a delivery charge of Rs. 70. Moreover, Kheti is providing its services within select areas inside Kathmandu valley and Pokhara.You can place your order through Kheti's website or app (Android).

5. Farmers' Market at Le Sherpa

As one of the most prominent farmers' markets in the country, Le Sherpa is the home to some quality produce from local farmers. Though it is a local establishment operating at Lazimpat, you can now order items like fruits, vegetables, dairy products, honey, etc. The company is operating from 10 AM to 5 PM and is providing free delivery within 7km from Ringroad, with minimum order amount set at Rs. 1,500.You can place your order through Le Sherpa's website or via Viber/WhatsApp message on 9802028777 | or 9801159482.

Summary list of online shopping platforms delivering vegetables, fruits, and poultry items during the COVID-19 lockdown

Medicinal supplies

1. Jeevee

E-pharmacy is gaining a lot of buzz in Nepal and Jeevee is among the top players in it. With people unable to get out of their house due to the ongoing lockdown, the demand for medicinal supplies is through the roof. Though many local pharmacies are open for business, at the same time, many of them are not.Here, Jeevee offers a wide selection of medicines, equipment, wearables, child-care items, and more. For prescription medicines, the user is required to scan and upload the prescription for further processing. The company also facilitates online counseling and setting appointments with NMC (Nepal Medical Council) verified doctors. In terms of orders, there is no minimum order value set and the company is delivering on Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. The delivery charge, on the order hand, is Rs. 50 for customers inside Ringroad, Rs. 100 for outside Ringroad and free on orders above Rs. 500.You can place your order through Jeevee's website or app (Android).

2. EPharmacy

Another online shopping company fulfilling your medicinal needs during this lockdown is EPharmacy. Though the company has a great selection of medicinal supplies from medicines, fitness supplements, beauty care products, etc. EPharmacy says that it's currently only taking orders for medicines. Customers from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur can place their orders, whose delivery could take up to 48 hours (between 1 PM to 4 PM). There is no minimum order amount set, but a delivery charge of Rs. 50 (inside valley) and Rs. 100 (outside valley) is applied.You can place your order through EPharmacy's website or app (Android).

Summary list of online shopping platforms delivering medicinal supplies during the COVID-19 lockdown

Final words

With demand for essential goods soaring high like never before, a need for effective utilization is at hand. The online shopping platforms can only do so much during the time of this lockdown. Many wards (वडा) throughout different districts of the country have already started distributing rations which include rice, salt, onion, beaten rice, cereal, and potato. Such donations should only go to the ones most affected by the lockdown, people and families who depend on daily wage for their livelihood. I appeal to every one of our audience to not exploit the system and thus if you are financially capable of affording commodity purchases this time around, maybe consider imparting your half of the ration to someone needy instead.