Srinagar, Aug 16: Business and other activities remained crippled on Sunday due to COVID-19 pandemic in summer capital, Srinagar and elsewhere in the valley, where 424 new positive cases were reported on Saturday, while seven more died due to deadly virus.
Meanwhile, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Chairman Dr Shahid Choudhary, who is also Deputy Commissioner (DC), Srinagar said that as the markets are reopening on Monday after restrictions and lockdowns due to COVID-19 pandemic since March this year, people are requested to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to prevent further spread of virus.
In a very strong message, the DC said we should wear masks, avoid crowding and stay safe, he said collectively we can prevent further spread of coronavrius in Srinagar, where 110 new positive cases were reported on Saturday.
However, in the morning a number of shops and business establishments reopened in Srinagar, including in the civil lines, which were later closed after police intervention.
Famous 3-km-long Sunday market from Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) to Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, Gantaghar, Regal chowk and Amira Kadal remained closed since March this year. However, some vendors had put up their stalls in the morning before they were evicted by the police. The vendors have suffered loss of crores of rupees due to lockdown.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Srinagar city and outskirts on Sunday. The civil lines, where some shops reopened this morning, continued to wore a deserted look with only security forces and police personnel besides pedestrian moving around. However, security forces had removed road blocks and other barricades. However, roads remained blocked with barbed wire at Budshah Chowk towards Maisuma, stronghold of JKLF, and Haji Masjid. However, pedestrians were being allowed to move.
Though public transport remained off the roads due to lockdown, several passenger vehicles were seen plying on different routes, including on Moulana Aza road, Batmaloo and outskirts.
There was no change in the situation in the down town and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK), where business and other activities remained shut and traffic off the roads. However, private vehicles and three wheelers were seen plying. Security forces remained deployed outside the historic Jamia Masjid, where two bullet proof vehicles had been parked outside main gates. However, a small gate was open.
Shops and business establishments also remained closed in the uptown though shops selling vegetables and fruits were open.
Reports of lockdown restrictions were also received from other parts of the valley.
Business, other activities remained crippled in Srinagar, elsewhere in Kashmir
