Koraput seals borders with AP, Chhattisgarh

KORAPUT: Police sealed Koraput district’s border with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to restrict movement of vehicles on Wednesday, the first day of the 21 day-long lockdown declared by the Centre as part of the precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Police said adequate security personnel have been deployed on the inter-state borders and blocking was carried out at Bandhugaon, Padwa and Pottangi to restrict movement of vehicles to Andhra Pradesh and at Kotpad on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.
Vehicles either entering the district or going out are being checked at the blocking points and only emergency vehicles and vehicles transporting essential commodities are being allowed, said SP (Koraput) Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo.
According to the SP, people in both urban and rural areas have been urged not to step out from their respective homes and policemen have been directed to book the offenders. Shop-keepers have been taught the methods of social distancing, he said.
Also, the district administration raided the daily market at Jeypore and verified the stocks of potatoes and onions to ensure that no hoarding takes place and commodites are sold at their actual retail price.
“Currently, the situation is under control and there is no shortage of essential commodities. The authorities concered have been urged to closely monitor the situation and to ensure that no unnecessary gathering takes place at public places,” said collector (Koraput) Madhusudan Mishra.