Bihar: Lockdown garners mixed response in districts

PATNA: The 16-day statewide lockdown imposed by the government till July 31 to contain the spread of coronavirus garnered mixed response on Thursday.
Except for some minor violations, Day 1 of the lockdown was effective in Gaya. Since the main commercial area of the town had, earlier, been declared a containment zone, business activities on G B Road and adjoining areas were stopped much before the implementation of the lockdown.
Gaya district magistrate (DM) Abhishek Singh, who visited several areas of the town, told this newspaper, “This lockdown was far more effective than the previous one. It very much depends on the people’s response.”
Although markets remained shut in Samastipur, several people were seen roaming on the streets without masks. Private vehicles, especially three-wheelers, were also moving freely. Besides, fruit and vegetable vendors, who had been allowed to open their shops in the morning and evening, violated the norms by dealing with customers throughout the day.
In Madhubani, all shops, except for those selling essential commodities, remained shut. Roads wore a deserted look as neither buses nor other modes of transport were allowed. Even small eateries and tea stalls were closed and policemen roamed around the town on bikes to keep tabs on the activities of the locals.
District Congress general secretary Anil Nath Jha claimed that during the previous lockdowns, a general disdain for the restrictions was witnessed, but “this time people are serious owing to a surge in Covid-19 cases”.
The people of Khagaria also remained indoors and all business establishments, shops, institutions, government and private organizations followed the directives of the district administration. DM Alok Ranjan Ghosh and SP Meenu Kumari urged the people to follow the norms, “failing which stern action will be taken against the violators”.
In Ara, it was unprecedented scene on the first day of lockdown on Thursday. Gopali chowk, the main market area of the town, was completely deserted during peak traffic hours. SHO of town police station Janmejai Rai and the circle officer Kamal Kishore launched a vehicle and mask checking drive right from the early morning at the Shivganj Mor and exacted fine from the rules- violators. “Not even small kiosks were seen open in the town on Thursday till early evening. On a positive note, there was remarkable use of face mask was seen in the town,” the SHO said.
In Bhagalpur, majority market and city areas wore deserted looks from early morning hours. All types of vehicles including two-wheelers and four-wheelers also remained off roads, whereas vehicles and people associated with emergency works only moved on the roads. The district administration and police personnel moved on the roads to ensure strict lockdown to check movement of people in order to isolate people from intermingling. Checks were also enforced at vegetable markets.
(With inputs from Abdul Qadir in Gaya, S K Jain in Samastipur, C S Jha ‘Azad’ in Madhubani, N P Thakur in Khagaria, Praveen in Ara, Kumar Rajesh in Bhagalpur)