Night curfew in Shimla, Mandi, Kullu and Kangra evokes sharp reaction; people term it as eyewash

Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 24

The decision of the Himachal cabinet to enforce a night curfew in four districts of Shimla, Mandi, Kullu and Kangra, which are witnessing a surge in Covid 19 cases, has not gone well with the public who are mocking the government on social networking sites.

Himachal Pradesh, which had only three cases and no deaths when the first lockdown was imposed on March 24, has seen a sharp increase in cases. The state has reported 6,688 active cases and 550 deaths untill Monday.

Most parts of the state are in the grip of severe cold wave and there is hardly any outdoor human activity during the night but the government imposed a curfew in four worst-affected districts from 8 pm to 6 am till December 15.

“As per the Himachal government, corona is a ghost who comes out at night only, no threat in the day,” said a citizen.

Such statements are making rounds on Facebook, Whatsapp and other platforms and the advisors of the government have come under fire.

However, the government maintained that night curfew has been imposed as a large number of marriages, especially in rural areas, are taking place at night in the closed spaces due to the cold.

“With the early onset of winters, the minimum temperature is already 3 to 5 degrees below normal and people are avoiding venturing out at night hours due to the cold. The decision of the government is just eyewash,” says an octogenarian.

The casual approach of the people during the festive season—from Karva Chauth to Diwali—and the tardy implementation of restrictions as per Covid-19 pandemic guidelines has resulted in a spurt of cases. On an average ten deaths are taking place in the state every day.

Restrictions should be reimposed on functions like weddings and political programmes, and ministers and other VIPs should severely restrict their outdoor activities, suggested people on virtual platforms.

“It is most unfortunate that while the whole country and the state are passing through a tough time, the state government is planning grand celebrations to mark three years in the office,” said the leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, questioning whether the government was celebrating the death of 550 people due to coronavirus.

“The government is deliberately taking controversial decisions to divert the attention of people from serious issues like non-availability of oxygen and inadequate health care and the criticism on social media is an indication of the falling graph of the government,” said lone CPIM MLA Rakesh Singha.

Interestingly, the government is launching ‘Him Suraksha Campaign’ from Tuesday under which health workers would collect door-to-door information of all the people having symptoms Covid 19.

However, residents questioned whether there were enough isolation centres to keep those who are symptomatic.