After curfew was relaxed, residents of the Capital Shimla rushed to stores in large numbers to buy essentials, paying no heed to social distancing rules on Thursday morning.
Curfew was imposed in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday evening and a relaxation from 8 AM to 11 AM on Thursday was announced in Shimla district to allow people to buy staples and groceries. During the relaxation hours, a heavy rush of buyers was observed in various parts of the district.
In Sabzi Mandi and Old Bus Stand areas, people did not maintain the required distance of at least one metre or 3.5 feet between each other to ensure social distancing to prevent spread of the contagion while buying vegetables, milk and groceries.
However, people were seen maintaining proper distance while standing in queues for buying essential items in New Shimla, Chhota Shimla, Boileauganj, BCS and Khalini areas. Circles were drawn on the ground with limestone powder outside some shops in these areas to ensure that people maintain the required distance.
Meanwhile, some police personnel provided rice, pulses and raw vegetables to migrant labourers in the slums at Nabha and Phagli areas. Shimla deputy commissioner Amit Kashyap said the curfew would be relaxed again on Friday and urged the residents to maintain a distance of minimum one metre from each other. However, the timing of relaxation of curfew on Friday has yet not been announced.
In case of emergencies during curfew hours, people may contact helpline number 1077, he said, adding that this number may also be used for any clarification or information about the pandemic. Domestic LPG cylinders will be supplied daily at people's houses like before, he added. Kashyap said instructions were also given to open pesticide/insecticide shops for orchardists.
CM DIRECTS TO MAINTAIN SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES
Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday directed the officers to ensure that the supply chain of essential commodities in the State was maintained effectively so that there was no dearth of essential commodities in wake of Corona epidemic.
Presiding over a meeting with senior officers of the State Government here to review the situation of essential commodities in the fair price shops in the State,he said that plying of vehicle carrying essential commodities should not be stopped as this could affect the availability of essential commodities in the State.
Thakur said the District Food and Civil Supplies Controller concerned must ensure that the flour mills provide uninterrupted services for milling of wheat flour.
He said that the Food Corporation of India stores have stock of adequate quantity of wheat and rice etc, adding that besides adequate stock of wheat flour, rice the State has over 1200 MT salt and over 4000MT stock of sugar and there was no need to panic.
Thakur said the State at present also has sufficient stock of pulses such as ‘Dal Chana’ and ‘Dal Masur’. He said that the officers must ensure effective supply of pulses from other States. He said that social distancing must be ensured while supplying essential commodities to the consumers in the fair price shops, during the period of relaxation of curfew.
The Chief Minister said that that the Civil Supplies godowns waiting inauguration at Sidhpur and Chatru in Kangra district with 1500 MT capacity must be used for storage of 350 to 400 MT pulses besides other essential commodities. He said that availability of medicine must also be ensured in medicines shops being run by Civil Supplies.
He also directed the officers to ensure adequate supply of LPG to households. He urged the general public to not go for panic purchasing and unnecessary stocking as there was adequate essential commodities in the State.
Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Amitabh Awasthi, Managing Director Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Mansi Sahay Thakur, Director Food and Civil Supplies Abid Hussain and other senior officers attended the meeting.