Rush after lockdown relaxation in Guwahati City

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The third phase of the lockdown in India began on Monday with "considerable relaxations".

The first phase of the lockdown started on March 24 and currently on the third phase, it is slated to last till May 17.

The relaxations have been introduced for the ease of the public and also to run the economy. However, the relaxation led to a rush of people in the city from morning 6 am to evening 6 pm. The market places were usually crowded than before and e-rickshaws, rickshaws and autos filled the roads. While, vehicles were lined at the petrol pumps, panic shopping made it hard for the shop owners to maintain the norms of social distancing.

The Assam State Transport Department (ASTC) resumed its services and 100 city buses were given for operation in Guwahati city as well as 214 buses were deployed for inter-district operation across the state.

It is to be mentioned that though the buses were carrying half passengers; but the norms of social distancing was not followed by the passengers while they were getting down from the bus at their respective stations.

Talking to The Sentinel, an official from the department said a total of 10 ASTC buses were transporting passengers from ISBT to various parts of the State including - Tezpur, Sonari, Jorhat, North Lakhimpur and Tinsukia.

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