Ludhiana’s liquor vends give two hoots to blackout orders, business runs as usual with lights on

Though a blackout was declared in Ludhiana on Thursday night by the district administration-- in view of the escalating situation between India and Pakistan--many liquor vends in the city were seen not complying with the orders.

Giving two hoots to the orders, liquor vends were seen open with all the lights inside and outside the vends switched on, and business was running here as usual.

The blackout was announced at 10:20 pm and even after an hour, around 11.30 pm, vends were found open on Pakhowal Road, Sarabha Nagar, BRS Nagar, Lodhi Club Road, and Dugri Road.

When one of the workers at the vend located at Lodhi Club Road was asked if he was not aware of the orders, he said that he is doing his duty and has received no instructions from his boss, so he is carrying on as usual.

Another liquor vend at BRS Nagar was all lit up with all the fancy lights and the shutter open. Kulwant Singh, a senior citizen who lives nearby, said that he requested them to shut the vend or at least switch off the lights but they did not bother to listen and continue their work as usual.

“These kinds of people also put the security of other people at risk,” he said.

People ventured out of their houses in the blackout to get fuel filled in their cars and long lanes of cars were witnessed outside pumps located on Ferozepur Road, Pakhowal Road, and surrounding areas.

As there was pitch dark due to blackout, cars were seen making their way to the fuel stations.

A serpentine queue was seen at the fuel station located near Aarti Chowk.