COVID-19 fallout: Puri administration orders curfew in view of Bahuda Jatra

Puri: The Puri district administration today ordered a curfew in the district from the night of June 30 to 10 pm on July 2 in view of Bahuda Jatra and Sunabesha.

Informing about the district administration’s decision, Puri Collector Balwant Singh said residents of buildings located on both sides of ‘Bada Danda’ (Grand Road) will not be allowed to come out during the curfew.

If any outsider stays in the buildings along the Bada Danda, action will be taken against the building owner, the Collector said. Even lodges and dharmasalas are not permitted to provide shelter to outsiders during the curfew.

There will be complete restrictions on vehicular movements in the district, he said. However, medical urgency and essential services will be exempted from the restrictions.

On June 22, the district administration had imposed a curfew in ‘Bada Danda’ and complete shutdown in Puri district ahead of Ratha Jatra to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the administration is carrying COVID-19 tests of servitors who will participate in Bahuda Jatra on July 1.

Also read: Odisha Imposes ‘Curfew-Like’ Shutdown In Puri For Ratha Jatra