Assam: Total lockdown in Guwahati to check COVID spread

The 14-day lockdown is being enforced with a strict hand by the authorities, with police swinging into action since early this morning to ensure that no movement of people and vehicles, except those exempted, take place.

Police check-points were erected across the city and other parts of the district as personnel checked documents and identity cards of commuters before allowing those with valid papers and seizing the vehicles of those without proper reason for venturing out.

Milk vendors had trouble with the police in the morning hours as, though in the exempted category, they were stopped from making milk delivery.

In Noonmati area, vendors poured their milk on the roads as a mark of protest.

For train and air travellers, the administration has arranged buses from all police stations and outposts of the districts.

Only specified petrol pumps have been allowed to remain open by the district administration.

During the first seven days, only hospitals, pharmacies and laboratories will be open in the state, besides directorates, secretariats and banks, with skeletal staff.

Only emergency and essential services, including flood relief works and media services, have been exempted from the lockdown.

All groceries and vegetable and fruit shops will also be closed during the first seven days, after which the administration will review the situation.

Over 650 cases of COVID 19 positive have been detected in the city so far, out which more than half are without any travel history, prompting the administration to take the total lockdown decision.