Hours after liquor stores re-opened across India, many shops in Delhi were shut again as huge crowds gathered, flouting social distancing norms.
New Delhi| In Delhi from early morning on Monday, people in huge numbers started queuing up outside liquor stores. The lines were seen as early as 7.30 am in some parts of the national capital.
Liquor shops across the nation were also closed with the lockdown that was declared on March 24.
The national lockdown to curb the spread of novel coronavirus will continue for another two weeks, the Union Home Ministry said. Except in containment areas, standalone liquor shops can re-open across the nation.
Around 150 alcohol shops were reopened in Delhi as the national lockdown entered the third phase.
The views were alike across many states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Karnataka: People line up at a liquor shop in Bengaluru as state government permits the sale of liquor between 9 am to 7 pm from today. pic.twitter.com/3SmTwlO1w1
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020
In Delhi, policemen were seen using to force in various parts of the city as they tried to manage crowds outside alcohol stores this morning.
The national capital that has over 90 containment zones and has so far recorded over 4,500 coronavirus cases and 64 fatalities.
#WATCH: People stand in a queue outside a liquor shop at Desh Bandhu Gupta Road in Delhi. Govt has allowed sale of liquor in standalone shops, neighbourhood (colony) shops or shops in residential complexes. pic.twitter.com/aF1g9cbz7L
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020
#WATCH Andhra Pradesh: Long queue seen outside a liquor shop in Chittoor; social distancing norms flouted. pic.twitter.com/v9IgIrZGqQ
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020
Delhi should “allow minimum relaxations” to control the pandemic, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said this afternoon.
West Bengal: Long queue outside a #liquorshop in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/SjgJIWZK1v
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020
Also Read: Clash Broke Out Between Surat Police Personnel And Migrants
Visuals from Mumbai revealed long queues outside liquor stores as shops re-opened after a month.
Maharashtra: People line up at liquor shops in Mumbai after state govt allowed standalone shops including liquor shops to open from today except for the containment zones. #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/5emiUA73nT
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020
Liquor shops have been permitted to open across Uttar Pradesh from10 am to 7 pm. In Lucknow, the state’s capital, people began queuing outside stores before they re-opened this morning.
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