TN observes Janata Curfew, lauds selfless service of medicos (2nd Lead)
Chennai, March 22 (IANS) The people of Tamil Nadu on Sunday enthusiastically observed the 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Janata Curfew call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and remained indoors to contain the spread of coronavirus.
At 5 p.m., residents in many localities appreciated the selfless services of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers by coming out of the houses, standing in their balconies and clapping their hands as suggested by Modi.
Meanwhile the state government extended the time of Janata Curfew till 5 a.m. on Monday.
In a statement issued here, the government said keeping in mind the welfare of the public, the Janata Curfew time has been extended till 5 a.m. on Monday while the essential services will continue to operate.
On Sunday, Tamil Nadu turned silent as there was total shutdown in response to Modi’s call for Janata Curfew.
In many places, people skipped their early morning walking exercise. Even the beaches here which generally would be teeming with morning walkers wore deserted look as the government ordered the closure of beaches and parks.
However, milk and newspaper delivery persons didn’t skip their routine.
“There is total silence in my locality and nobody is on the roads. I am able to hear the leaves rustle when there is a breeze. It has been ages since it was like this,” an old time resident of a locality near Luz in south Chennai told IANS.
All the roads including the bylanes were empty with people deciding to remain indoors.
Public transport, government buses, trains, autorickshaws, call taxis were off the roads.
Health authorities are sanitising the railway/bus stations as these places were empty now.
The airports, vegetable markets and other places that usually see milling crowds on Sunday were also deserted.
The restaurants, hotels, roadside eateries and other shops were also shut in most of the places in the state.
The DMK in a statement announced that its Members of Parliament and the Legislative Assembly would donate their one month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the welfare of unorganised sector workers whose earnings were impacted by the coronavirus.
–IANS
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