Grave violations on day one of the second phase of lockdown in Jammu on Wednesday shifted the focus on the Government agencies working on ground zero in containing the spread of coronavirus across twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu.
While the administration in Jammu came in for sharp criticism for allowing free movement of large number of people ignoring the threat of spread of coronavirus and on the other hand their counterparts in Srinagar were questioned for strictly enforcing the lockdown and not allowing movement of essential supplies in areas categorised as Red Zones.
A total number of 90 localities, 76 in Kashmir valley and 14 in Jammu region were categorised as Red Zones to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The debate was first triggered on various social media platforms after images of traffic jam at a busy Bikram chowk crossing in Jammu went viral.
The local residents, observing lockdown, were surprised to see free movement of residents and also raised pertinent questions vis-a-vis purpose behind extending the lockdown till May 3.
Participating in the debate former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also tweeted, " I’m assuming these are current photographs & I have no reason to believe they aren’t. They beg the question about the sort of lockdown being enforced. In Srinagar on duty employees of the municipality are being thrashed & in Jammu it’s a free for all".
A senior journalist with a private TV Chanel tweeted from Srinagar, "How come this brazen violation of lockdown is allowed in Jammu. This will defeat India’s fight against COVID. No one and no place is immune to coronavirus".
Another netizen from Srinagar wrote in response to a tweet from Jammu highlighting the lockdown violation," Where are they going. To buy groceries I guess. Evening jaunts were preferred here too but now with many Covid cases reported and strictness on roads, very few come out".