Restrictions tightened in Kashmir over COVID-19 surge, Sehrai's death
Normal life remained affected in many areas in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday with the imposition of the lockdown in the wake of an alarming surge in coronavirus cases. Restrictions were tightened due to the death of separatist leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai. "Restrictions on the movement of people continued to remain imposed in many districts in the wake of the lockdown," the officials said.
Sehrai was under PSA detention at Udhampur jail
The restrictions were tightened in many areas of the Valley following the death of Sehrai, who passed away at a hospital in Jammu on Wednesday. Sehrai was under PSA detention at Udhampur jail from where he was shifted to a hospital after his health deteriorated. He was buried at his ancestral village in the Kupwara district of North Kashmir as per COVID-19 protocol.
Security forces have put barricades; essential and emergency services allowed
The curfew was imposed in many places across the Kashmir Valley and in the Jammu district The officials said security forces put barricades on roads at many places in Srinagar city as well as in other district headquarters of the Valley to prevent the movement of people. They said while the restrictions were being implemented strictly, essential and emergency services were allowed.
All 20 districts were already under a curfew
The officials said shops, fuel stations, and other business establishments were shut across the Valley, while public transport was off the roads. On April 29, the Jammu and Kashmir administration imposed a curfew in 11 districts in a bid to tackle the surge in COVID-19 cases, which was subsequently extended to all the 20 districts the next day.
Kashmir's COVID-19 tally nears the two lakh mark
The curfew, which was supposed to end at 7 am on May 3, was extended in the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar besides Budgam and Baramulla till 7 am Thursday. However, the authorities in other districts of the Valley also ordered an extension in the restrictions till Thursday. The COVID-19 tally has crossed 1.97 lakh cases in the UT with 2,510 deaths reported.
