Defying curfew, Jalandhar residents make a beeline at DAC

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, March 25

Defying curfew and giving two hoots to social distancing, a large number of people, including grocery store owners, medical shop owners, vegetable and fruit vendors, milkmen and others, were seen making beeline at the District Administrative Complex (DAC) here today to avail curfew passes.

Reports of several residents stepping out of their homes to buy milk and grocery items in the morning at Rainak Bazaar, Saidan Gate and at Verka booths were too received. Besides, some grocery shops in various localities, especially those operating from homes, were found opened for a brief period.

Though the government has been repeatedly asking citizens to stay at homes and maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has already led to the death of 10 persons in the country, with such gathering people are defying the very purpose of imposing curfew and risking their lives.

One of the vegetable vendors present at the complex said he waited for at least two hours at the complex to get a pass, so that he may continue selling vegetables door-to-door. However, there was too many people that he could not managed to avail the pass and had to leave.

He alleged that there was no system put in place for the registration of the names of people who were coming for the passes and proper queues and even the DC office staff failed to maintain social distancing as people turned up in large numbers.

The residents also complained that helpline numbers issued by the administration were of no help as most of the numbers were either switched off or not reachable, busy or never received.Meanwhile, despite a number of attempts to contact the officials concerned, none of them picked up calls.

Helpline numbers of no use, say residents

Residents also complained that helpline numbers issued by the administration were of no help as most of the numbers were either switched off or not reachable, busy or never received. Reports of several residents stepping out of their homes to buy milk and grocery items in the morning at Rainak Bazaar, Saidan Gate and at Verka booths were too received. Besides, some grocery shops in various localities, especially those operating from homes, were found opened for a brief period.