Odisha: Weekend shutdown across all districts peaceful, residents relive memories of last year’s lockdown

BHUBANESWAR: Streets and markets in all towns across 30 districts wore a deserted look on Saturday. Police guarded check posts to prevent people from moving around unnecessarily. For most residents, it was like reliving the lockdown all over again.
A handful of morning walkers and cyclists were seen on the streets in the exempted hour between 5 am and 6 am. People mostly stayed indoors.
Since most had bought all household essentials on Friday evening, no one save those needing medicines came out. Many food delivery boys were also seen moving on the streets besides mobile power repair vans, water tankers, civic body vehicles and government vehicles.
Twin cities police commissioner Soumendra Priyadarshi said people were very cooperative in the twin cities and only a minuscule number of people were found moving unnecessarily. “Police have kept a tight vigil. The movement of essentials services has been very smooth,” he said.
Neighbourhood shops and the ones located inside colonies also adhered to the norms. Vegetable vendors who had been relocated from their usual places packed up their businesses sharp at 8.30 pm, half an hour before the beginning of the weekend shutdown on Friday. The police and BMC enforcement squads patrolled the streets thereafter.
“It was like experiencing last year’s lockdown. But this time, we have five days to spend normal life except with a bit of restriction at night. I think the two days of shutdown should be used by people to take rest, enjoy life at home and stay healthy,” said Binay Panigrahi, a resident of Palasuni.