| Lockdown: As Jammu wears deserted look, woes multiplying day-by-day | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 26: Normal life remained crippled on second day of lockdown on Thursday in the winter capital as even petrol pumps were shut, newspapers stands almost empty while labourers and workers returned to their homes.
The District Administration Jammu ordered immediate shutdown of filling stations across the district.However, the petrol pump owners expressed displeasure over the decision, asserting that they were not aware of it and not taken into confidence.
District Magistrate Jammu Sushma Chauhan, facing continuous queries from media and civil society, on social media stated, "first priority is to give passes to Health professionals, followed by pharma and perishable industry."
"Pumps will open later. So no need to worry. Things will stabilise in 3-4 days," she said. Petrol pumps were among in the list of essential commodities announced by the government.
Newspapers did not hit the stands as many readers have asked hawkers not to deliver their copy in fear of spread of coronavirus.
Many small newspapers have shut their offices as staff was facing hardships in reaching to the offices while those printed, remained piled up at the General Bus Stand.
"Firstly due to Corona Virus threat, circulation of newspapers has come down and secondly, the vendors, hawkers dealing exclusively in newspaper distribution, are facing hardships in the hands of police and security personnel deployed at various locations," said a hawker.
Hundreds of people from districts like Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Reasi, working as labourers or helpers at many shops, houses, brick kilns, factories, have started leaving Jammu for their homes as most of the commercial establishments are closed following 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
They assembled in large at General Bus Stand here and after registering themselves in police diary being maintained on regular basis, have been ferried in the buses of State Road Transport Corporation to their native places.
"I am working as a labourer in a bakery here at Bhagwati Nagar but the owner shut it two days back," Jeevan Lal of Kishtwar said.
"We are facing problem of food, water and shelter and hence decided to return home till the crisis settles down," he added.
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has so far reported 11 COVID-19 cases with zero casualty
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