Srinagar, June 19: Streets again wore a deserted look as restrictions on movement of people and transportation were re-imposed on Saturday to curtail the spread of COVID-19 virus in Kashmir even as police have fined around 4,000 people for violations.
Markets were on Saturday closed as shops and businesses have been allowed to open on rotational basis between Mondays and Thursdays in Kashmir, where the number of COVID positive cases has witnessed a significant decline during the last over four weeks.
In Srinagar, most of the roads and market places, including Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, were sealed early on Saturday morning to prevent movement of people. Shops and businesses were closed though a few private vehicles and three-wheelers were plying.
Reports of restrictions also came from other parts of Kashmir, including Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in the north and Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam in south Kashmir. Shops and business establishments were closed and roads wore a deserted look in these districts, where police parties were patrolling their respective areas to ensure strict implementation of the weekend curfew.
The administration on May 31 gave some relaxation in the month-long COVID curfew after significant decline in the number of positive cases in the valley.
Police said that around 4000 people were fined while over 80 vehicles were seized during the last 24 hours for violating Covid guidelines.
Police said that continuing its efforts to curb the outbreak of another wave of Coronavirus, they enhanced its efforts to sensitise the masses. “During the last 24 hours, police realised a fine to the tune of Rs 5,64,570 from 3911 people in Kashmir valley for violating various guidelines/rules/SOPs regarding COVID-19,” police said.
Besides, police said over 80 vehicles were seized for violating Covid-19 norms in Kashmir, adding that special drive launched against the violators of COVID-19 guidelines/rules continued throughout Kashmir to ensure that people adhere to SOPs/guidelines envisaged by government to curb COVID-19 pandemic.