Lockdown: Police seize nearly 900 vehicles from two Odisha cities

Bhubaneswar, Apr 6 () The Odisha Police on Mondayseized close to 900 vehicles from the twin cities ofBhubaneswar and Cuttack as part of measures to enforce thelockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had on Sunday eveningwarned people to maintain social distancing and adhere to thelockdown or face criminal action.

So far, 637 vehicles have been seized in the statecapital and nearly 250 in Cuttack, a senior police officersaid.

"There will be zero tolerance on violation of socialdistancing. Any violation of social distancing will attractcriminal action," Patnaik had said.

Twin City Commissioner of Police Sudhanshu Sarangisaid some people are venturing onto the streets with theirvehicles despite repeated requests to refrain from usingprivate transport.

He said people can purchase essentials on foot fromnearby shops, as sufficient groceries and vegetable vendorsare in operation.

Sarangi said the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation(BMC) is also operating mobile vans selling essentialcommodities and vegetables.

BMC sources said the authorities are mulling raisingthe number of such mobile vans to 200 from the existing 120.

Though the total shutdown imposed in Bhubaneswar,Cuttack and Bhadrak ended on Sunday night, the 21-daynationwide lockdown continues to be in force.

Out of the 39 coronavirus positive cases detected sofar in the state, 32 are from Bhubaneswar. AAMRBT RBT