Hyderabad: Roads had a deserted appearance in Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana on Wednesday morning when the ten-day-long closure across the state began to spread the word. COVID-19.
The busy markets in Hyderabad are under no mobility as all the shops and businesses dropped shutters at 10am
People were seen rushing back to homes after using the recreation to buy the necessities from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Police officers patrolled the streets to enforce the lock.
Police on Wednesday were the first day of the closing period and were not strict in enforcing restrictions in the first hour. This was done to give people time to return home. However, police plan to take strict action against those found on the roads after 10am
A senior police officer said that cases would be discussed against offenders under the Disaster Management Act and that their vehicles would be seized.
Anjani Kumar, Hyderabad police commissioner, who oversaw lock-up at historic Charminar, said 180 checkpoints had been set up in the city to control the movement of vehicles. Senior officials have been deployed to ensure strict compliance with the closure norms.
‘Locking is important to break the chain of infection. There is good awareness among people about this and they are expanding the co-operation with the police, ‘said the police commissioner.
VC Sajjanar, Cyberabad Police Commissioner, and Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bahgwath were also in the field to monitor surveillance within their commissioner boundaries.
Extensive arrangements have also been made in 32 other districts in Telangana to enforce the 20-hour closure. The Director-General of Police, M. Mahender Reddy, instructed all Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to ensure strict supervision of lockdown.
Earlier, the roads had been full of traffic since early morning because people needed to buy. Vegetable markets, grocery stores, meat shops and supermarkets have been teeming with customers since 06:00
Public transport services such as the RTC bus and Metro trains are also operated from 06:00 to 10:00
In some places, clothing stores also opened early in the morning to allow people to shop for Eid, which is to be celebrated on Thursday or Friday.
The state cabinet on Tuesday decided to impose state-wide detention for ten days to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Every day there is relaxation for general activities and needs of the people. Only for these four hours all the shops are opened.
Pharmaceutical companies, companies that manufacture medical equipment, medical distributors, medical stores, all kinds of medical and health services, government and private hospitals and their staff are exempt from lockdown.
Transport on national highways is allowed for the transport of essential products. Petrol and diesel pumps will be open on national highways.
Government offices will work with 33 percent of the staff. As with the last time the bank was locked up, banks and ATMs will work as well.
Only 40 members are allowed to marry with prior permission. A maximum of 20 people is allowed for funeral rites.
The government has ordered the closure of cinema school halls, swimming pools, clubs, gyms, amusement parks and sports stadiums.
The state government was initially reluctant to apply lockdown. While the night clock was set for May 23, it ruled out imposing partial or total closure, saying the measure did not help much limit the surge.
Last week, the prime minister also stated that such a move would bring life to a standstill and lead to a total collapse of the economy.
However, the government eventually decided to apply lockdown after the Supreme Court drafted it because it did not take strict measures to control its distribution. COVID-19.
Source: The Siasat Daily