Streets empty, shops closed as Lucknow observes weekend lockdown

Lucknow streets wore a deserted look on Saturday as most shops and businesses were closed and public transport went off the roads in view of the state's second-weekend lockdown of the month to combat Covid-19.

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to impose a strict lockdown across the state on weekends to stop the spread of the virus. The restrictions will remain in place at least for July, officials had said earlier.

Markets were closed in the city and only vehicles carrying essential goods were seen plying on Saturday.

The markets in prominent areas of Lucknow such as Hazratganj, Aminabad, Chowk, Gomtinagar, Indiranagar, Latouche Road, Alambagh, Hewett Road, Aliganj and Gudumba remained shut.

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Police personnel were deployed at all prominent intersections of Lucknow and other cities as well.

"The weekend lockdown is in place in the district. Sanitisation is being done in the city. District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash took rounds of various places in the city. Scanning of people in the containment zones of the city has gained momentum as most of the people are in their homes," an official of the Lucknow district administration said.

He added that screening and sampling had been intensified, and markets were being sanitised.

People too are abiding by the lockdown norms, the official said.

Meanwhile, with the restrictions in place and almost everything closed, some youngsters spent the afternoon flying kites.

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Mohammed Shakeel, who runs a bicycle repair shop, was seen flying a kite along with his brother, Raja, on the roof of their Shuturkhana home.

"Kite flying is our best way to pass the time as our shop is closed. On other days, we do not get the time for it as we close the shop in the evening," Shakeel said.