Assam: Lockdown in Kamrup (M) starts amid strict security measures

GUWAHATI: Roads wear a deserted look with the 14-day-long lockdown in Kamrup (Metro) district, which started from Sunday midnight.

The city police will use five drones for surveillance in a bid to ensure a strict lockdown in Guwahati. The drones will keep a close watch round-the-clock in the COVID-19 sensitive areas like Panbazar, Fancy Bazar, etc., of the city, so that there are no violations.

Police commissioner Munna Prasad Gupta said that along with the drones, police personnel will patrol round-the-clock in every location of the city.

“Already we have made public announcements to make the people aware about the lockdown. This time there will be no compromise. Any violation of the lockdown will attract legal action as per the Disaster Management Act and IPC,” Gupta said.

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Gupta said that for the lockdown, a unique strategy is in place for that the police will also engage additional forces.

The State government has directed both district and police administration of Guwahati to implement the lockdown norms strictly, and any negligence of the same will attract immediate punishment to the enforcers as well.

During the lockdown hours, which will last for 14 days, the health department is planning to collect swabs from as many people as possible in the city. The department has set up testing and counselling centres in every ward of the city where the health workers have been collecting an average of 500 samples each day. Very soon rapid testing facilities will be available in these centres. A senior health official said that anyone can come for COVID-19 test to a nearby centre during the lockdown days.

Deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) Mayank Kumar Jha said that traffic personnel will be in duty for 24 hours at every point connecting bye-lanes with main roads.

Police will only allow persons to move in the city in case of medical emergency or those who have already booked flight or train tickets. The lockdown also exempted media persons and newspaper distribution activities.

The 14-day lockdown will be a rigorous. All establishments, offices, shops and services, including some essential commodities with be shut, except for pharmacies and medical services, informed state health minister Himanat Biswa Sarma. A review will be held a week later on reopening groceries and other essential commodity shops.

Also, night curfew from 7 pm to 7 am daily will be observed across Assam, until further notice.

Weekend lockdown has been imposed across town committees and municipalities elsewhere in the state, effective from Saturday (June 27), informed the health minister.