Madurai lockdown: Roads wear deserted look, most residents stay indoors

MADURAI: Roads in Madurai wore a deserted look as people chose to stay indoors on Wednesday, on the first day of an intense lockdown in the city corporation limits and Paravai town panchayat. The intense lockdown, meant to curb the spread of Covid-19, will be in force till June 30.
Fewer vehicles were seen on city roads, most of them being two-wheelers.
Police teams were deployed at check posts on the city borders to prevent unnecessary movement of people. People were allowed to enter the city only when they gave a valid reason. Many people were turned away.
Stores selling items like grocery, milk, medicine, meat, fruits and vegetables were open. They experienced less sales.
While all the vegetable markets were overcrowded on Tuesday, hardly a few were seen on Wednesday. The price of vegetables, which rose on Tuesday due to sudden demand, came down on Wednesday. People were allowed into the market only after they wash their hands and only after their body temperature was checked.
“We have better quality of vegetables today, but hardly a few are coming out to purchase. Yesterday, the situation was completely different as we sold out all the vegetables by 10am and left,” said S Chinnappan, a trader in Anna Nagar Farmers Market.
Bus terminals were deserted as public transportation came to a grinding halt before midnight of Tuesday. Auto rickshaws were allowed to operate.