Scenes from Lockdown 3.0, Day 1: People make beeline for liquor shops, traffic back on roads, salons reopen

With the Home Ministry allowing plying of private vehicles in all zones with restrictions, traffic was back on the roads in cities — a departure from the eerie quiet that had descended over them during the 40-day lockdown. While the restrictions have not been eased in containment areas, movement of private vehicles have been allowed in red zones with two passengers besides the driver for cars (earlier it was just one passenger in all zones) and no pillion rider for motorcycles.

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Here are the highlights of Day 1 of third phase of lockdown:

#1. Several liquor vends in Delhi had to be shut only hours after they reopened as scores of people gathered outside, violating social distancing norms. Around 150 liquor vends opened in the city on Monday, a month and a half after Delhi announced a lockdown on March 23.

A customer showing bottles after standing in the queue for two hoursin Chandigarh’s Sector 38. (Express photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

“There have been problems in a few areas where hundreds gathered outside the shops. The MHA order states clearly that social distancing norms have to be maintained and in places this was not done, we have asked shops owners to make arrangements before opening up again,” said a senior government official.

In East Delhi, for example, most shops had to be shut, an official said, after long lines, without any designated spots for people to stand in line, were seen. “We have asked the owners to make adequate arrangements before opening up again,” an official said. At an outlet in Kashmere Gate, police resorted to mild lathicharge social distancing norms were flouted by people outside the shop.

Construction activities also resumed where workers were available on the site following revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

#2. Large parts of West Bengal wore a deserted look as the state government is yet to decide on the relaxations in the green and orange zones. Shops, barring those selling essential commodities, remained closed and vehicles were off the roads in most parts of the state in the morning. Bus operators, however, refused to commence services stating it would be economically not viable for them to run vehicles with only 20 passengers.

Delhi: More number of vehicles seen on roads in the national capital today, after Delhi govt announces several relaxations amid #CoronavirusLockdown; Visuals from Moolchand. pic.twitter.com/5orSQBBP4F

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020

#3. In Chhattisgarh, a large number of people had queued up outside liquor shops after the government allowed outlets to open in the state except the containment zones. In Rajnandgaon, a huge crowd had gathered outside liquor shops, flouting social distancing norms.

A customer after procuring liquor in Punjab. (Express photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

The state excise department, which has allowed liquor outlets to open from 8 am to 7 pm, is also working on starting home delivery of liquor at some places to discourage crowding at shops, PTI quoted an excise official as saying. Local administrations of several districts have kept the liquor shop timings from 8 am to 4 pm

#4. In Kerala, shops selling essential and non-essential goods opened in Thiruvananthapuram after the government allowed opening of shops registered under Kerala Shops and Establishments Act except for those in single and multi-brand malls.

Queue outside a liquor store on Monday.

#5. In Assam, movement of people and vehicles increased in Guwahati after the government announced relaxation in the restrictions. The government has announced night curfew from 6 pm to 6 am across the state from Monday. Four districts of the total 33 are in orange zone while the rest are in the green category.

IN PICS | Long queues at liquor shops as states peg hopes on reviving economy

#6. Salons reopened in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, following the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the coronavirus lockdown that has been extended till May 17.

#7. In Tamil Nadu, mobile phone, electronic and stationery shops were seen opening in Chennai.

Police resort to lathicharge to control the overwhelming crowd outside a liquor shop.

#8. Employees and workers of a garment factory in Peenya Industrial Area in Bengaluru, Karnataka, rejoined work after the factory opened following the revised guidelines issued by the government. Heavy vehicular movement was witnessed in parts of Bengaluru leading to traffic jam in some areas.

In a few videos that have gone viral, some people in Kolar, a small town in Karnataka, were spotted bursting crackers outside wine shops as well.

An accident took place due to inappropriate parking and the commotion by liquor seekers in front of TR wines Undri in Pune on Monday

#9. In Pune, hundreds of tipplers had to return home disappointed with no formal order coming from the district administration on reopening of stores despite Maharashtra government allowing the sale of alcohol. The wine shops (which generally open at 10 am) remained closed with, in some places, owners showing up to tell the gathered prospective customers that they were unable to open the shop until they receive a written order from the District Collector via the State Excise Department.

Although confusion prevailed on opening of liquor shops, customers wait outside a store at Bhanadarkar road in Pune.

#10. In Himachal Pradesh, people gathered in large numbers outside shops in Shimla which opened after 40 days on Monday. Government offices also opened with thirty per cent staff in attendance, but public transport remained shut. The Himachal Pradesh government has allowed most of the shops, except hair salons, barbershops, spas and bars, to open during a five-hour relaxation in the curfew.

#11. Chaotic scenes outside liquor stores in some parts of Uttar Pradesh were witnessed, while elsewhere serpentine queues were seen long before the outlets opened. Principal Secretary, Excise, Sanjay Bhoosreddy along with officials of the department inspected liquor shops in various parts of Lucknow, which include Mahanagar, Aliganj, Indiranagar, and instructed all the shopkeepers to ensure that social distancing is strictly adhered to and that sanitisers are made available.

“Orders have been issued to allow 26,000 liquor shops in the state to open. Liquor shops have opened in most districts of the state, while adhering to the rules and regulations of social distancing. Sale of liquor is going on, while maintaining cleanliness around shops. There is an estimate that on the first day itself, the government is likely to earn Rs 100 crore as revenue,” Bhoosreddy told PTI.

#12. Rajasthan had to close most of the shops where social distancing norms were not being followed. Pictures showed some people struggling to carry liquor bottles, while a few followed the social distancing norms and stood in circles marked in front of shops and on roads. Policemen were also deployed near the shops to ensure that liquor stores are not crowded.