Kashmir observes 34 hour ‘Corona curfew’
Shops remain close, roads deserted as people decide to break virus curve
SRINAGAR: Kashmir valley including summer capital Srinagar remained shut on Sunday as part of the 34 hour ‘corona curfew’ announced by administration last evening amidst sharp spike in COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory.
34 hour corona curfew which was imposed with an aim to break the chain of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday 8 pm will remain effective till 6 am on Monday. Emergency and essential services however remained ‘uninterrupted’ during curfew period.
Authorities sealed several localities in Srinagar, after declaring them as containment zones as hundreds of people tested positive for the COVID-19. Several banks were also temporarily closed in the valley after employees tested positive for virus.
The famous Sunday flea market in Srinagar also remained closed as part of corona curfew while only emergency services were exempted from curfew restrictions.
Police cautioned people against violating government orders and asked them to stay indoors till curfew remains in force “please stay indoors for your own safety and safety of your family, strict actions will be taken against violators,” messages were being relayed through public address system fitted in police vehicles.
However, more than official restrictions, it was peoples’ own will that they stayed indoors. Several police and administrative heads confirmed that people made the Corona Curfew a success as they fully understand that breaking the curve of the nefarious virus is in the interest of every citizen.
Meanwhile roads at many places in Srinagar and other parts of the valley were blocked with concertina wires and iron barricades to curtail people’s movement, with poses of police and paramilitary forces manning deserted roads.
Only those associated with medical emergency service and media were allowed to move on roads that too after verification and cross verification of their identity cards.
Shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut and public transport was off the roads; however a skeletal movement of private vehicles was witnessed on deserted roads.
Authorities besides deploying additional companies of police and paramilitary CRPF, placed barricades near historic clock tower at city’s commercial hub, Lal Chowk to thwart peoples’ movement.
In old city, roads were sealed with razor wires with all shops and business establishments shut and transport off the roads.
Reports reaching ‘Kashmir Images’ from other parts of the valley including north, south and central Kashmir suggested that weekend curfew remained in place in these districts with people staying indoors in compliance with government orders.
