New Delhi: Hundreds of people queued outside liquor stores here Monday as they reopened. The Delhi government began easing some curbs after a 40-day lockdown against the coronavirus.
Rush to buy liquor
However, such was the rush to buy liquor that after a couple of hours quite a number of shops had to be closed down. Crowds could be seen flouting lockdown norms including social distancing in their rush to buy liquor.
The Union Home Ministry had earlier said that Monday onwards standalone liquor shops could open. However it had added that minimum distance of six feet should be maintained between customers. Also more than five people should not be allowed inside liquor shops.
Nearly 100 liquor shops opened in the national capital Monday morning. However in front of some of the shops police had to resort to force and control the crowds. At a number of places, shutters had to be put down so that the crowd would disperse.
Police resort for force
By about 9.30am, a line of more than 500 people had formed outside a liquor store in the capital’s eastern area of Kalyan Puri. The shop was closed and police baton-charged the crowd to disperse it.
Neighbouring states Haryana and Punjab, however did not allow the liquor shops to open. The home department of both states said that at present restrictions on the opening of liquor shops will remain in place.
Lockdown curbs eased
The nationwide lockdown, among the world’s strictest, is being relaxed in some areas with fewer infections.
Many government cars were among the traffic on Delhi’s boulevards Monday. Police at checkpoints peered into cars to ensure there were no more than two occupants. Everyone wore masks.
The easing could drive further infections in India, which has tallied more than 42,500 cases and 1,300 deaths. However, some state governments want economic activity to resume as revenue dwindles and millions struggle without income.
“We have to get prepared to live alongside corona, we have to get used to it,” Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, told a Sunday briefing.
Agencies