With the rampant spread of the coronavirus (or the COVID-19) to all corners of the globe leaving panic in its wake, India observed a demo lockdown on Monday, which has been termed as a Janata Curfew by the Government.
Karbi Anglong's Diphu also wore a completely deserted look, and not a single soul could be sighted on the streets. "I have never seen Diphu so deserted. Not a single person is out", a local, Pradip Kro, told Inside Northeast. Pradip also informed us that observing the curfew, the twin districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong went into absolute and utter lockdown. "One or two bikes and a couple of four wheelers could be seen, but all the shops were closed and only a few people were seen outdoors. There is an air of complete desertion in the town", Pradip further informed us.
Over in Nagaland, the public stayed indoors and a hailstorm pelted their roofs amid the shutdown. "Well Kohima is observing the janata curfew, the streets are deserted, no traffic and no pedestrians either. It was a bright beautiful morning but now it raining with hailstones. A well deserved rain in a very long time", a local, Neitho Khamo, informed Inside Northeast. In Meghalaya, another Northeastern State, the Government used the opportunity of the bandh to "purify" the streets with disinfectants. The day passed by without any incident and few people out on the streets.
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Later, as soon as the clock struck 5, people across the nation -- old and young, sick and healthy, rich and poor alike -- came out and started clapping their hands, ringing bells, and playing the guitar to thank the "corona warriors" (or people who continue to work in spite of shutdowns). It may be recalled that the PM Modi, while announcing the Janata Curfew, had urged citizens to laud the service providers who continue to work despite locked down cities.
Despite the lockdown and the gloom that had settled amid reports of skyrocketing corona cases and deaths, people clapped with zeal and zest, as if to say: "We salute the corona warriors for their courage in these trying times." The nation's leaders as well as celebrities led from the forefront in saluting these people -- such as medical personnel, journalists, chemists, etc.
People saluting the 'sacrifice' of these warriors have uploaded their videos on social media, media of which are trending across the world. In deserted Diphu, too, the two foremost leaders, CEM Tuliram Ronghang and MP Horensing Bey, could be seen leading the cheers with family members.
Somewhat amusingly, many people seemed to forget the purpose of the curfew, and in excitement, spilled out onto the streets in great numbers forgetting the threat posed by the COVID-19.
In that old bastion of Manipuris in Assam, the Manipuri Basti in Guwahati, the locals (and especially women) came out in a procession clapping their hands and ringing bells and beating drums. Apart from that, many community gatherings to "make some noise" to salute the COVID-19 warriors also took place, drawing strict condemnation from netizens who saw these celebrations on social media.
Experts consider that there are trying times ahead for the nation as a whole, as the COVID-19 has already reached the Second Stage of the pandemic spread, with an exponential rise in number of cases each day. With the corona on the rise and lockdown being announced in 75 badly hit districts across the country, there is reason to believe that the worst is yet to come.
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