Balasore: A 48-hour shutdown was today imposed in Khaira panchayat of Odisha's Balasore district in a bid to check influx of migrants in the area which has led to rise in COVID-19 cases.

Exercising the power of district collectors given to sarpanchs by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Khaira sarpanch Sudarsan Sethi imposed the shutdown (curfew-like) which will remain in effect from 6 AM of May 12 to 6 AM of May 14.

However, hospitals and medicine stores in the area will remain open during the period.