Srinagar not to remain under lockdown yet says government

By: Musaib Iqbal MK

Srinagar

Government has decided to watch the situation before going for any lockdown in Srinagar city as the rumors were making rounds that the city will come under lockdown from Tuesday.

District administration of Srinagar has refuted such rumors and have said that no decision has been taken yet and have assured the people that all possible steps were being taken for their safety and security.

In this direction, the government has been taking review of the situation on a daily basis and most of the officers are not in favor of any blanket lockdown especially in Srinagar city as they have the experience of previous lockdown which crippled the life for months.

Meanwhile KNO in its report about the rumors and the decisions of the district administration has said the district administration Srinagar refuted reports about the imposition of lockdown in the district, saying that there was no such decision at present and that adequate beds and oxygen supply is available within the district.

According to a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad told reporters here that they have not received any decision vis-à-vis imposing the lockdown in view of spike in Covid-19 cases. “Whenever a decision in this regard would be taken, we as an implementing agency will take necessary steps accordingly,” he said.

Asad along with other top police officers launched a drive against the transporters who are violating the COVID-19 norms. “We have launched a drive to ensure that the directions issued by the State Executive Committee (SEC) are followed in spirit,” he said.

Asked about the availability of oxygen supply, he said there was no shortage of the oxygen supply and on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the administration is further setting up oxygen plants, which would be made functional shortly.

About bed capacity, DC Srinagar said that sufficient beds are available at present. “The beds are also sufficiently available at the COVID designated centres established last year by the administration,” he said.

With inputs from KNO