Chennai: Though police personnel and patrol vehicles were seen repeatedly advising the people to follow social and physical distancing, the crowds were such that on Chennai roads today, none were seen heeding to it.
In some areas police were seen regulating the crowds by strictly adhering to the social distancing norms. Police personnel could not be blamed for this, as people refused to follow self-containment.
Despite the police making arterial roads like Anna Salai and other ares out of bound for public, the number of vehicles plying on the roads had only increased.
People flaunting stickers (Computer printouts) like ‘Covid Essential’, ‘Corona duty’, press and media, were seen criss-crossing several roads in the city, giving a scant respect for lockdown guidelines, despite police arresting nearly three lakh people and releasing them on bail, collecting fine to the tune of Rs three crore and seizing more than 2.50 lakh vehicles across the State
An aged man, who was waiting for his turn to get the provisions in a grocery shop, welcomed the complete lockdown announced by the Chief Minister.
“Going by the current scenario and the number of vehicles–both two-wheelers and cards–hitting the streets, there is no option other than to make lockdown compliance more stricter and tougher”, he said.
People, who were freaking out just for fun, were not realising the dangers of coronavirus, despite the government using all modes to create an awareness among the people,
“They, especially youths, seems to be not bothered about the danger the virus will cause…staying indoors is the only option and they should cooperate with the government in tackling the corona spread”, another person said.
“We have crossed almost 75 per cent of the lockdown period. It might be even more frustrating for the rest of the week, before the scheduled end of curfew period, but there is no alternative”, a middle-aged woman said.
The corona curve has to reach a plateau , then only one could heave a sigh of relief, she said, adding, “till then, all of us should abide by the government directives”.