States »NortPosted at: May 9 2021 4:38PM Restrictions continue in Kashmir as 'COVID curfew' enters day 11
Srinagar, May 9 (UNI) Majority of the people remained confined to their houses as restrictions continued for the eleventh successive day on Sunday in view of 'COVID curfew' imposed by administration following unabated rise in the number of fresh coronavirus cases and deaths.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday extended the ‘COVID curfew’, which was scheduled to end on Monday, till May 17 in all 20 districts of the Union Territory. But, essential services have been exempted from the lockdown. Eid-ul-Fitr, the culmination of holy fasting month of Ramazan, also falls within the extended corona curfew period.
However, reports of violations of 'COVID curfew' were coming from some parts of the summer capital, Srinagar, particularly downtown and uptown areas, where good number of people and vehicles could be seen on the roads.
“COVID Curfew imposed in all 20 districts of J&K till 0700 hrs on Monday is extended further by seven days till 0700 hrs on May 17,” an official said. The Union Territory on Saturday hit another grim milestone with a record single-day spike of 60 deaths while 4788 people tested positive for COVID-19.
He said the curfew will be strict except for a few essential services. “Further, the gathering permissible for marriages is reduced to 25 only with effect from today,” he added.
The extension in the lockdown in the UT has come in the backdrop of unabated rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in J&K, particularly the summer capital, Srinagar, which has recorded the major chunk of positive cases during the last about 28 days. Srinagar alone, out of 4788 new Covid-19 cases in J&K, reported 853 cases on Saturday followed by Jammu with 634 cases. Of the 60 deaths recorded on Saturday in the UT, 18 were from Kashmir and 42 from Jammu.
Streets continued to wear a deserted look on Sunday as shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, where security forces have closed majority of the roads with barbed wires and barricades to stop the movement of people.
All the roads and market places, including Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, remained sealed to prevent movement of people. Shops and businesses establishments remained closed though a good number of vehicles were plying on roads in downtown, civil lines, uptown in Srinagar. Reports of violation of lockdown were coming from some areas in the city, including Habbakadal, Nawakadal in downtown, Budshahnagar, Aazad Basti, Nowgam, Mehjoor Nagar in uptown Srinagar.
Business and other activities remained crippled in central Kashmir districts of Budgam and Ganderbal, where roads have been closed with barbed wires in most parts to prevent movement of vehicles and people.
Reports of similar restrictions were coming from other parts of the valley, including Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in north and Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam in south Kashmir. Shops and business establishment were closed and road wore a deserted look in these districts, where police parties were patrolling their respective areas to ensure strict implementation of the lockdown.
The administration last month ordered the closure of all universities, colleges, schools, and coaching centres in the Union Territory till May 15 though teaching and non-teaching staff was asked to attend schools and colleges. But, the J&K administration later allowed teaching and non-teaching staff to stay home in view of a surge in COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir. The closure of the educational institutes was last week extended till May 30.
Teachers, however, are conducting online classes from home in the valley though many students alleged that they were unable to attend these classes due to non-availability of smart phones. The decision to allow teachers to take online classes from their respective homes was taken after many teaching and non teaching staff members of government schools tested positive for the virus in the Union Territory.
UNI ABS JW1636