Srinagar: Streets and markets remained deserted as strict restrictions on movement and assembly of people continued in Kashmir valley to curtail the spread of Coronavirus that has so far claimed four lives and infected more than 200 people in the Union Territory of J&K.
The lockdown to curtail the spread of COVID-19 entered 23rd day on Saturday in Kashmir, where authorities have intensified contact tracing.
Meanwhile, 14 ‘Red Zones’ in Srinagar city, which were declared containment zones after many people tested positive for Coronavirus in these areas, have been completely sealed. All the entry points in these areas have been sealed barring a few which are meant to facilitate employees on essential duty and to ensure supply of essentials. Similarly, about 25 areas in other districts have been declared as ‘Red Zone’.
“Only designated essential and emergency services officials will be allowed to enter these areas in strict compliance with all stated guidelines and precautions,” an official said, adding operations of NGOs and distribution of relief items in these as well as other areas will be in strict coordination with the NGO Cell of the DDMA.
The total number of Coronavirus cases has risen to 207 in the Union Territory of J&K with 23 more people, including 16 from Kashmir and seven from Jammu, testing positive for the infection on Friday. Meanwhile, the number of deaths due to COVID-19 has risen to four in the Union Territory as a woman from Udhampur, who had tested positive for the infection, died late on Wednesday night.
Official sources told UNI that restrictions on movement and assembly of people has been tightened across Kashmir valley on the 23rd successive day of lockdown.
Shops and business establishments remained closed while streets were deserted as locals voluntarily remained indoors due to scare following upward spiral in Coronavirus cases in the valley. 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.
Acting tough on lockdown violators, police has so far sealed many shops, hotels and educational institutes and arrested about 600 persons from Srinagar, Sopore, Handwara, Ganderbal, Anantnag and other parts of the valley since March 31. Police is using 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. However, despite government asserting that arrangements would be made for online classes for children no such arrangement has been made so far even as high speed internet service remained suspended since August 5, when special status of J&K was scrapped.
The streets in uptown and civil lines were deserted as shops and business establishment were closed and traffic was off the roads. Security forces were deployed in these areas, where people alleged that 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.
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.
