Fortnight lockdown begins in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts

Consequently, highways and major roads in the districts saw increased movement of personal modes of transport along with goods vehicles in the early hours.

Twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi went into the government enforced fortnight lockdown intended to break the spread of COVID-19 pandemic from 10 a.m. on Wednesday with personnel from police, revenue and local bodies ensuring shops selling essential commodities were closed and people remained indoors. The four-hour window offered to people to buy essentials witnessed hectic movement of vehicles and people across important cities and towns in the districts, including Mangaluru, Udupi, Puttur, Bantwal, Karkala, Kundapura and other places. Those working in essential services made use of the window to reach their workplaces in the absence of any kind of public transport. Consequently, highways and major roads in the districts saw increased movement of personal modes of transport along with goods vehicles in the early hours. Police personnel erected barricades across major roads and junctions in Mangaluru and Udupi cities after the 10 a.m. window to curtail unnecessary movement of people. Both district administrations had asked those intending to get inoculated against COVID-19 to visit their nearest health centres and cautioned against wandering in the guise of vaccination.