On the first day of lockdown, the national Capital witnessed very few people and vehicles on roads as many stayed indoors to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Delhi Police on borders conducted thorough checks and advised people to return to their residences. Meanwhile, police allowed, doctors, patients going to hospitals, media personnel and those involved in essential services to go to their destinations.
Police had sealed around 27 borders with neighbouring States — Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. “Police has sealed all border areas including Faridabad, Noida, Maharjapur , Singhu border, Tikri border, Gurugram, Ghazipur, Anand Vihar, Apsara border, Bhopura border, Loni and others with a purpose to contain the spread of coronavirus,” said a senior police official.
Despite Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeal to stay at home, on Monday morning till noon, several people were on road which also lead to traffic chaos on Delhi borders of Noida, Faridabad and Gurugram as police didn’t allowed commuters to pass or come in Delhi.
“Police teams are requesting public to stay indoors and doctors, patients going to hospitals, media personnel and those involved in essential services are being allowed to pass through the borders,” said a police official.
According to Narendra Bundela, Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Delhi police has initiated a strong vigil to keep public safe by ensuring the compliance to the directions of the Delhi Government and Delhi Police Commissioner instructions.
“During the field visit scores of good citizens were observed supporting the government direction of social distancing as they stayed back home which increases the chances of curbing the spread of covid-19,” said the Joint CP.
Most of the shops were shut, but dairies, grocery shops, chemists, petrol pumps, ATMs remained open. Metro, autos, taxis and cab aggregators have already suspended their services due to the lockdown.
Indraprastha Gas Ltd shut down nearly two-third of its dispensing outlets in Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad as most vehicles went off the roads.
The firm has some 155 self-operated compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in the National Capital Territory. The CNG dispensing operations at petrol pumps as well as Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) depots will continue unhindered.
AIIMS-New Delhi said it would shut down its outpatient department (OPD), including speciality services and all new and follow-up patients' registration from Tuesday till further orders.
The lockdown come on a day the Aam Aadmi Party government presented its first budget after registering a landslide victory last month.
“Delhi has 30 cases. Twenty-three are those who have returned from abroad, seven are their family members who have been infected,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
“Currently, the situation is under control. Lessons from other countries state that if strictness is not adhered to, things can go out control. This is why there is a lockdown so that the situation does not go out of hand,” Kejriwal said.
The Health and Family Welfare department had issued a detailed order on Sunday, notifying the lockdown in the whole of Delhi, stipulating various restrictions.
It includes no operation of public transport, including private buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws. All shops, commercial establishments, factories, workshops, offices weekly markets will be closed.
All motorable and non-motorable borders of Delhi with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been sealed. Movement of interstate buses trains and Delhi Metro trains are closed.
