Janata Curfew: Streets empty as Nagaland stays indoors

Streets were deserted and shops were shuttered across Dimapur on Sunday, as citizens responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for a 'Janata curfew' to help check the spread of COVID-19. (Morung Photo by Soreishim Mahong)

Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 22

Nagaland joined the rest of the country in a 14-hour long curfew on Sunday to limit the fast-spreading coronavirus epidemic elsewhere in the country.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an address to the nation last week urged citizens to stay indoors from 7am to 9am--a move that he said would be a crucial test for a country to assess its abilities to fight the pandemic.

Majority of the people in urban areas chose to stay indoors and the streets remained mostly empty vehicles as all shops and eateries, except medical stores, were shut.

In places like Dimapur and Kohima, Sunday devotional services in many churches were suspended as several churches opted to deliver sermons through various social media platforms. A church in Dimapur had a congregation of only three persons-- the Pastor and two deacons-- interceding for its members while some churches in Kohima provided hand wash facility and hand sanitizers at the church entrance.

Sunday devotional services in Tuensang town were conducted as usual while in Zunheboto town, the service included an awareness programme on the corona virus.

Meanwhile, in Chukitong under Wokha district, a public figure said the church services were held as any other normal days.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy said that the “Janata Curfew was very successful,” and thanked the people for displaying discipline and concern.

The curfew started at 7:00 am and continued till 9:00 pm.