Kolkata, Mar 22 (PTI) Kolkata and several areas across West Bengal
will be put under a lockdown from Monday 5 pm till March 27 in view of
the coronavirus outbreak, according to a notification issued by the
state government on Sunday.
Only essential services will be allowed during the period, the notification said.
The lockdown will apply to areas under the jurisdiction of the
Kolkata Municipal Corporation, all municipal towns in North 24 Parganas
district, including Salt Lake and New Town, besides Malda, Murshidabad,
Nadia, West Burdwan, North Dinajpur and Howrah districts.
Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kurseong towns will also be put under
the lockdown, apart from other urban areas in different parts of the
state, according to the notification.
"No public transport services, including operation of taxis,
autorickshaws, will be permitted. The exception will include transports
of all kinds to and from hospitals, airports and goods carrier carrying
food and essential commodities," the notification said.
All shops, commercial establishments, offices, factories and workshops shall also shut their operations, it added.
"People are required to stay at home and come out only for basic
services while strictly following the social distancing guidelines
issued earlier. Any congregation of more than seven persons shall be
prohibited in public places," the notification said.
Any person found violating these restrictions shall be deemed to have committed a punishable offence, it added.
Foodgrains, groceries, vegetable, fruits, meat, fish, bread,
milk, medical services, home delivery, petrol pumps, pharmacies, the IT
sector and banks and ATMs, among others, have been exempted from the
purview of the lockdown.
West Bengal witnessed a near-total shut down on Sunday as people
chose to stay indoors in response to the "janata curfew" call given by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The state has so far has reported four confirmed COVID-19 cases. PTI PNT/SCH SOM RC
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