Roads of the capital saw surging crowds out to purchase essential items a day after the Jharkhand government announced a total lockdown till March 31 to break the chain of the novel coronavirus through social isolation.

However, it looked like many people failed to understand the aim of the lockdown or deliberately ignored it despite the state and central government directives. Many were on the road as usual.

In turn, residents also felt that the state government was unprepared to implement the lockdown successfully by ensuring essential commodities were available.

Buying rush

Many people justified going out to buy the essentials. Upma Shilpee, a bank official, said: “Nobody knows how the situation will turn out in the next 10 days. If people have to remain at home, we need grocery and medicine stocks. I agree people in no condition should defeat the purpose of the lockdown, but we have to eat too.”

Resident Nand Kishore Singh Chandel said at Piska Mor, he saw cops sending back vegetable-laden trucks. “That can’t be done. Vegetables are vital. The government has to ensure that the supply of necessary items is not disrupted otherwise chaos will erupt.” Vegetable markets across the capital saw panicky buyers.

Basant, a shopkeeper on Kanke Road, said he was forced to close his shop in an hour in the morning though shops stocking essential commodities were permitted to stay open during lockdown. “Customers were panicking, buying more than needed,” he said.

Bitter lesson

Morabadi resident Vimal Krishnan said: “Shops were open and I saw auto-rickshaws on the road. As a responsible citizen I informed the Ranchi district administration. It seems the government ordered a lockdown and sat back relaxed.”

Later in the day, the district administration and police started getting stricter.

An FIR was lodged against sweets and confectionery shop Rasik Lal Misthan Bhandar at Doranda when it was found open. Circle inspector of Argora Kamalkant Verma filed the FIR. “The shop owner ignored the lockdown order and kept his shop open. There was a large gathering of customers at his shop. An FIR was lodged under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 290 (punishment for public nuisance) of the IPC,” said a cop.

Sanitizers disappear

Markets saw hand sanitizers disappear. An employee of a medical shop said most medical stores stopped selling it. “The central government has capped the maximum retail price of hand sanitizer at Rs 100 per 200ml bottle till June 30 this year. But manufacturing companies charge Rs 170 to Rs 180 for a 100ml bottle. How is this feasible?” he said.

Civic challenge

Ranchi Municipal Corporation safai workers (cleaning staff) were hesitant to work for fear of contracting infection, said a source.

Ranchi deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya conceded the problem. “I have asked the municipal commissioner to issue a general notice that during this crisis period they should not avail leave so that RMC effectively discharge its civic duty. We have to ensure necessary facilities to RMC workers for their safety. We have issued a helpline number 9431104429,” said deputy mayor.

Positives

Some people with overseas travel history are proactively contacting the district administration on their status. “We returned from Bangkok on March 14. Proper screening was done at the airport. We don’t have any Covid-19 symptoms but have quarantined ourselves for the past 10 days at home. On Monday, we informed the district administration and were asked to stay in isolation till further orders,” he said.

Rally postponed

A Ram Navami rally in the capital was postponed in the wake of pandemic. Shree Mahavir Mandal’s secretary Lalit Ojha told this to chief minister Hemant Soren at the latter’s office at the Assembly.

BJP barb

State BJP spokesperson Pratul Nath Shahdeo said the Opposition was with the government in its drive to fight the novel coronavirus, but people’s response and administrative preparation “left us baffled”. He urged the lockdown be implemented “in letter and spirit”.