Valley wears deserted look with prohibitory order in place

KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Valley has worn a deserted look following a prohibitory order that came into effect since Wednesday midnight.

District administration offices of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have simultaneously imposed a prohibitory order in the capital for a week after coronavirus cases spiked in an unprecedented manner.

The prohibitory order which started from Wednesday midnight will remain effective until August 26.  With the order in place, a huge number of security personnel have been deployed at major thoroughfares to strictly implement the order.

However, the movement for essential activities has not been banned.

Under the operation of essential activities, offices are allowed to run with a minimum number of staffers. Similarly, shops selling essential commodities will be allowed to operate without restrictions, said Tulsiram Paudel, Assistant Chief District Officer of Kathmandu.

“We have urged people to run shops that sell essential commodities without any restrictions presuming that customers will crowd up if they are allowed to operate only in a certain period of time,” said Paudel.

“Grocery stores, drinking water supply, pharmacies among others are allowed to run without any restrictions.”

Meanwhile, people have been urged not to come of their houses except for urgent cases.

If they are found walking outside their houses without valid reasons, they will be penalized in line with the Infectious Disease Act, 1964 and Local Administration Act, 1971.