Week-long lockdown comes into force in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The week-long lockdown in Bengaluru to contain the coronavirus spike in the city came into force on Tuesday night.

The Karnataka government said this will be a stringent lockdown compared to the previous one, which commenced on March 24.

Shops selling groceries, ration, fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and fish are permitted to open from 6 am to noon in Bengaluru, as it goes into a week-long lockdown to check the rise in COVID-19 cases, the government had said.

“We have to implement the lockdown strictly. We have allowed shops to remain open from 6 am to noon. Medical and hospital services will be operational. The others will remain shut,” Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters today after reviewing the lockdown related preparedness.

He said the guidelines were released on Monday, which will be strictly followed.

He also said 50 per cent employees will be allowed to work in Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha and multi-storeyed buildings in Bengaluru.

“Restricted permission has been given at these important offices,” Bommai explained.

Following the lockdown announcement, tipplers rushed to buy liquor and the sales was to the tune of Rs 410 crore in just two days.

According to a senior Excise officer, liquor worth Rs 230 crore was sold on Monday while it was Rs 180 crore on Tuesday.

There was a rush at grocery and vegetable stores as well on Monday and Tuesday.