Coronavirus scare: Arunachal Pradesh responds to Nationwide Lockdown

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: Streets in Itanagar wore a deserted look on Wednesday, as people remained indoors in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationwide lockdown.

Most of the shops and business establishments remained closed except grocery shops and pharmacies, while public and private transports were off the roads on the first day of the nationwide lockdown. A few private vehicles were seen plying in the streets to purchase essential items and medicines. Police personnel have been deployed in strategic locations of the state capital to restrict movement of the people keeping in view Tuesday’s scenario where people in large numbers ventured into the streets violating state government’s lockdown order, Capital SP Tumme Amo informed.

Police personnel on duty were stopping private vehicles and allowing them only after verifying the purpose of their movement. Amo in his message urged the people not to step out of their homes until and unless there is an emergency. “The Police department is trying its best to make sure that the lockdown is adhered to for the greater safety of the people,” Amo said. A sudden rise in prices of vegetables was witnessed in the state capital on Tuesday with most of the vendors claiming that their stock is almost over. All the government and private hospitals in state capital are open with available doctors on duty to treat people in case of emergencies, health department sources informed.

The Ramakrishna Mission Hospital here has announced that it would close its Out Patient Department (OPD) services from Thursday until further notice in order to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19.

The casualty and emergency services of the hospital would, however, remain functional as usual. Reports from other parts of the state informed that the nationwide lockdown was total in all the districts where people remained indoors. Six persons were arrested in East Siang district for violating lockdown orders while, 38 persons were imposed fine of Rs 33,000 for violating traffic restrictions, police said. Despite lockdown in effect, several people were found venturing into the roads without genuine reasons, East Siang SP Rajiv Ranjan Singh informed.

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