Poor weather, promise of daily curfew relaxation keep people at home in Himachal

Tribune News Service
Shimla, March 27

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Few people ventured out in Himachal Pradesh on the third day of the nationwide curfew on account of bad weather. The state continues to report a shortage of essential items in certain areas.

The nationwide curfew has been put in place to avoid the spread of coronavirus, as India enters a decisive stage in its fight against the disease.

Police sources said on Friday evening that 37 people were arrested in 26 cases of curfew iolation of curfew Himachal in the past 24 hours, taking the number of people arrested to 186.

Shimla:

Poor weather and an increase in the time allotted for curfew relaxation helped avoid crowding in busy market places in lower bazaar and sabzi mandi in Shimla on Friday.

Snow and rain lashed higher and middle hills of the state causing a sharp fall in minimum temperatures, prompting people to stay indoors.

Those who ventured out cooperated and maintained social distancing. Taking a lesson from yesterday’s crowding, the strength of police was increased in busy market areas.

“A large number of people had bought necessary items yesterday and as the government has announced that relaxation would be given every day, there was no panic among people on today,” said Amit a local shopkeeper.

However, some people were not happy with the curfew relaxation and said stringent measures were required to contain the virus. The state government may reconsider the decision.

Shimla district administration is mulling home delivery of essential items and sought names and mobile numbers of volunteers through its Facebook page.

Solan:

Only a few people ventured out during the curfew relaxation in Solan.

There was a shortage of vegetables and fruits in Dharampur as no vehicles from Chandigarh could enter the state.

People returned empty-handed informed Dheeraj, a local Dagshai resident.

Police remained deputed at the Parwanoo interstate barrier to check the entry of vehicles from neighbouring Haryana.

Domino’s Baddi has come forward to distribute food packets in the slum areas of Baddi, where people have lost their livelihood and had no means to earn.

Baddi SP Rohit Malpani pressed his staff to distribute the food packets.

The state government has drawn flak for allowing liquor vends to operate in orders issued on Thursday. Liquor was considered an ‘essential item’ by the state government.

The move was retracted last evening in Solan district, said Solan ADM Vivek Chandel. Liquor shops were, however, open in various parts of the district.

Baddi SP Rohit Malpani said that liquor vends which had opened this morning were shut down.

Policemen distributed food packets among the poor in Nalagarh industrial area where a large number of labourers were rendered unemployed after closure of industrial units.

A large number of truckers who have come to Baddi-Barotiwal-Nalagarh industrial area from other states to deliver industrial goods were facing a scarcity of food. Police have initiated distribution of food among the jhuggi dwellers and truckers, and a few companies were also coming forward to help these people. Migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan have been stuck here after the lockdown as they have no means to go back to their native states.

The area houses 89 per cent of the state’s industry and there were about 100 slums scattered all over the industrial cluster.

Mandi:

Mandi received a considerable rush of people in markets on Friday when the curfew was lifted between 7 am and 1 pm.

People used vehicles to reach the market, which was crowded in the day time.

However, in front of shops, people practised social distancing and stood in queues for their turn.

The supply of vegetables was normal a but people were seen stocking up ration.

Chemists lacked enough sanitisers and masks to meet the demand of the public.