Bathinda residents extend full support to ‘Janata Curfew’

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 22

The district on Sunday witnessed a complete voluntary shutdown as residents observe ‘Janata Curfew’ to check the spread of the coronavirus. All major areas, including Dhobi Bazaar, Amrik Singh Road, Sirki Bazaar and Post Office Bazaar, remained closed. Major roads and streets in the city wore a deserted as people preferred to stay inside their houses.

In the morning, the police faced a tough time in managing youngsters who were roaming on roads. Police personals also issued them challans. SSP Dr Nanak Singh visited some areas in the city and took a stock of the situation. As a precautionary measure, elaborate security arrangements were made in major areas of the city.

Residents did not come out of their houses for morning walk. In normal days, a large number of residents can be seen walking on roads.

The railway station and the bus stand also wore a deserted look as transport services remained suspended on Sunday. Officials were seen sanitising the railway station, trains and buses.

At 5 pm, residents clapped and banged thalis to show solidarity with doctors and nurses who are working on the forefront to fight the coronavirus.

DC B Srinivasan thanked residents for their cooperation during ‘Janata Curfew’. He said people should continue to cooperate till March 31 as the state government has issued lockdown orders in the state till March 31 as a precautionary measure against Covid-19.

All markets and shops will remain closed till March 31 except those supplying essential commodities. However, hospitals, banks, ATMs, medical stores, departmental stores, dairy, fruits shops, petrol pump and some other services will remain operational.

Unaided colleges offer campuses for isolation wards

• Various academic associations in the state have come forward to offer their campuses as isolation centres for Covid-19 patients. The Federation of Self Financing Technical Institutions (FSFTI), Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA), Punjab Unaided Technical Institutions Association (PUTIA) along with many other unaided colleges associations have come forward to offer their campuses as isolation centres.
• Dr Anshu Kataria, president, PUCA and FSFTI said, “To extend the support, a letter has been written to PM Narendra Modi and CM Capt Amarinder Singh that all the technical institutions across the country will not only offer their campuses but also the hostels and paramedical staff of nursing and pharmacy for isolation and care.”
• Bathinda Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan had carried out inspections and took stock of arrangements put in place in 13 isolation wards established in different academic institutions on Saturday.