Arunachal limping back to normalcy after partial lifting of restrictions

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: With the nation entering the third phase of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, life in Arunachal Pradesh is limping back to normalcy after partial lifting of restrictions on Monday.

All shops and business establishments opened in the state capital while movement of vehicular traffic are seen in the streets by observing prescribed protocols, official sources informed.

Pan shops and wine outlets have witnessed a remarkable surge of customers, who ventured into such shops to collect their quotas. However, most of the wine shops in the state capital are running with low stocks as most of the owners felt to lift their stocks from the bonds for the months of March and April respectively because of the lockdown.

"Customers are coming in large numbers to purchase wine but we are not in a position to fulfil their requirements due to limited stock," informed Rinku Bora, an owner of a wine shop at O Point Tinali here.

He, however, added that things would be normalised within a day or two as stocks would be lifted from liquor bonds by tomorrow.

Bora added that the customers have followed all the protocols by maintaining social distancing and wearing masks when they enter his shop.

Similar situation had been witnessed in most of pan shops in the state capital where stock of cigarettes and other tobacco products are limited due to the ongoing lockdown.

Long queues were also witnessed in several bank branches at Itanagar, Naharlagun and Nirjuli where people in large numbers thronged the banks to deposit or withdraw money.

While private vehicles with limited number of passengers are seen plying in large numbers in the capital complex, autos and tempos are plying in less numbers with limited passengers, a senior police official informed.

"The state capital witnessed heavy traffic in the morning hours, especially in the Ganga area of the state capital as people ventured out of their houses to purchase households," Capital SP Tumme Amo informed.

Public transport carrying essentials are plying normally in the state capital too, he added.

The state cabinet convened a meeting on Monday to discuss modalities to be implemented in the state during the third phase of the lockdown. However, the outcome of the cabinet meeting was not available to the Press as of now. Taking to tweeter, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said, "Though restrictions are relaxed in #Lockdown3, challenges still remain. Till there is no cure for #COVID19, we have to learn to live with it. To prepare ourselves for these very challenges, convened a cabinet sitting today on post 4th May lockdown implementation plan in Arunachal.

Meanwhile, the state government had also released booklets on details of activities prohibited and permitted during phase 3 of the lockdown in the state and appealed the people to follow the safety guidelines issued by the government for public and work places for their safety.

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