Bhubaneswar: As many as 42 shops, including roadside tea stalls were sealed in the state capital today for gross violation of COVID-19 safety norms.

A joint team of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Enforcement squad and police conducted surprise raid and sealed different shops dealing with automobile spare parts, mobile phones, tea and liquor at different locations under six zones the in the city.

The team also imposed fine on the shop owners for violation of the protocols.

"Several mobile shops located in Bapuji Nagar and around 18 shops on Cuttack-Puri road were sealed during the crackdown," informed an official.