Srinagar: Restrictions on movement and assembly of people were on Saturday further intensified as more positive Coronavirus cases have surfaced in the summer capital, Srinagar, and other parts of Kashmir valley, where streets and markets remained deserted for the tenth successive day due to lock down.
Four more persons, including two with international travel history, were on Friday tested positive for Coronavirus in the valley, bringing the total number of infected people to 13. This is an increase of 12 cases in the last four days. No Friday players were offered in mosques and shrines to avoid large gatherings for congregational prayers in the valley.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Saturday said that in view of many COVID-19 positive cases in Srinagar, ‘contact tracing’ holds the key to avoid further spread.
He said surveillance teams complain reluctance in some cases and urged people to be truthful, cooperative and responsible.
Official sources told UNI that strict restrictions on movement and assembly of people continued for the 10th successive day across Kashmir valley.
Continuing its action against violators of government order, police has sealed many shops, hotels and educational institutes and arrested about 120 persons from Srinagar, Sopore, Handwara, Ganderbal and Anantnag in the valley since Tuesday. Over 60 vehicles have also been seized by police since Tuesday.
Shops and business establishments remained closed while streets were deserted as locals and traffic were off the roads in the valley, where police vehicles fitted with public address system were directing people since early this morning to remain indoors in view of imposition of restrictions under 144 CrPc, barring assembly of more than three people.
After three days of wet weather, police on Saturday once again used drones in some areas in Srinagar to announce restrictions on the movement of people as part of the 21-day lockdown to combat coronavirus pandemic.
All educations institutes, including schools, colleges and universities, remained closed in the valley, where train services and public transport were suspended till March 31.
The streets in uptown and civil lines were deserted as shops and business establishment were closed and traffic was off the roads though few private vehicles were plying. Security forces were deployed in these areas, where people alleged they security personnel were not allowing them to move out of their houses.
Similar situation was witnessed in downtown, where people also alleged that they were not allowed to move out of their houses even to buy groceries and vegetables.
Security forces have closed the main roads in downtown and SeK with barbed wires at Nawa Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Kawdara and Khanyar. Similar road blocks remained erected by security forces at Nowhatta, Rangar stop and Gojwara. “Security forces were making announcement through loudspeakers since early this morning, directing people to remain indoors in view of curfew imposed in the district,” Sadiq Ahmad, a resident of Nawakadal, told UNI.
He said the people are running low of essential commodities, particularly vegetables.
Dr Choudhary said LPG Home-delivery with all precautions shall start from Saturday for 100 per cent consumer base in Srinagar. “Request everyone to strictly avoid extra fills. Stocks are sufficient,” he added.
Similar reports of lockdown were received from other parts of the valley, including Kupwara and Baramulla in north, Budagm and Ganderbal in central and Anantnag, Pulwama Kulgam in south Kashmir.
