Rajasthan announces weekend curfew from 6 pm today; fruit, vegetable and milk vendors among exempted

Jaipur: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday night announced a weekend curfew in the state from 6 pm today (16 April) to 5 am on 19 April, in view of rising COVID-19 cases.

The chief minister took to Twitter to announce the fresh restrictions and appealed to people to follow COVID-19 -appropriate behaviour at all times.

The decision comes on a day that saw Rajasthan registering 33 COVID-19 deaths and a record 6,658 new cases of the disease. Banking and LPG services, and fruit, vegetable and milk vendors are exempted from the weekend curfew.

समय की मांग है कि एक बार पुनः सभी एकजुट होकर उसी संकल्प के साथ सभी सावधानियों और सरकार द्वारा निर्धारित गाइडलाइंस का कड़ाई से पालन करें। हमें यह एहसास है कि थोड़े समय के लिए नागरिकों को कुछ कठिनाइयों का सामना करना पड़ सकता है, परंतु हमें यह नहीं भूलना है कि 'जान है तो जहान है' pic.twitter.com/TiSuP0tfi4

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 16, 2021

Gehlot warned that if strict steps are not taken in time, the situation may worsen like some other states which are witnessing a massive surge in infections.

Election-related activities in Sahara (Bhilwara), Sujangarh (Churu) and Rajsamand assembly constituencies, where bypolls will be held on Saturday, are also be exempted.