The price of whatever good onion could be recovered from the rotten consignment ranged from Rs 400 to Rs 500 per 20 kg. The rest -- as good as waste -- was being lifted at Rs 60 to Rs 120 per bag and sent for sorting.At these rates, few people are willing to take the onions.

According to wholesaler Champaklal Jaikishandas, traders at the C J Patel Market Yard have decided not to accept any more onions imported from Iran, amid reports that around 40 containers loaded with 8,000 tonnes are in transit.

According to Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Utkarsh Shah, who had played key role in ending vegetable traders' strike in May, the onions auctioned on Thursday were not rotten to begin with but perished in transit. He said the chamber was not directly involved in this import. Shah is also a member of the state BJP executive committee.

Adani Exports Ltd, the agency believed to have been involved in the onion import, is likely to suffer a heavy loss on this account.Adani officials were not available for comments.