Pune lockdown: City sees long queues outside liquor shops before complete shutdown

Pune: As soon as the news of strict lockdown to be reimposed in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad made rounds of the internet, large crowds gathered outside liquor shops across Pune on Friday.

While both areas are witnessing a huge toll of coronavirus cases, the administration declared to impose a strict shutdown starting from July 13. The strict shutdown will be reimposed from Monday and will be run till July 23.

Long queues outside liquor shops were seen in areas such as Aundh, Baner, Wakad, Pashan, NIBM road, Salunke Vihar, Deccan with people thronging the shops to purchase alcohol.

Long queues were seen at one of the shops in Aundh. At one of the shops, the owner had put up a barricade for queuing up buyers and had put bouncer on duty to follow social distancing. One of the shops in Aundh, had to close gates when the crowds became unmanageable and social distancing was flouted. The scenes were similar across the city.

Meanwhile, the decision of strict shutdown was taken on Friday as Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr Deepak Mhaisekar said, “Considering the alarming increase of pandemic, the decision of strict lockdown has been taken. The strict lockdown will be imposed from July 13 (Monday) till July 23. During the lockdown, only essential services such as milk shops and medicine shops will operate. This lockdown must be strictly followed.”

PMC Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said, “Guidelines will be coming soon related to the lockdown in PMC jurisdiction. During the lockdown, stress is on working on the COVID-19 facilities. The police will be providing passes for those working in essential services. After July 18 the shops delivering essential products will be opened between 10 am to 4 pm.

Earlier on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar instructed, the city administration to impose a strict lockdown in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas in the wake of a continuous surge of COVID-19 cases.