Shimla police procure drone to manage crowd, herculean task with lifting restrictions
After partly lifting the RT-PCR restrictions and allowing 50 per cent public transport in Himachal Pradesh. Corona curfew since last two months lifting poses a herculean task for Shimla police to manage crowds to strictly follow the Covid protocol with effect from today.
Shimla Superintendent of Police ( Mohit Chawla) said that they have urged public or tourist to not shirk away from the ideal Covid behavior in wake of pandemic. Moreover a new drone would keep eye on the public movement and congestion of people in the Shimla town along with CCTV cameras.
He said that in last 48 hrs thousands of vehicles enter the town as on Sunday evening Shogi barrier registered about 5000 vehicles or tourist cars and SUV after coming into force the new relaxation. During last 24 hours approx 3100 vehicles entered in Shimla city. Police is doing it’s best to maintain the smooth flow of traffic. Shimla police urges the tourist to follow the Covid protocol.
The Corona curfew is relaxed from 0900hrs to 1700hrs in most places of state, the condition of RT-PCR negative tests withdrawn while taking Covid e-pass, section 144 is lifted and public transport fleet is allowed with 50pc occupancy.
Local business told UNI that easing out of restrictions already increased the footfall of Tourist on the weekend on Saturday and Sunday however congestion on the state entry points might be owing to movement from outside to states to Himachal Pradesh who may want to avoid the increase in flux of people and tourist which expected to increase today onwards.
Mall road and Ridge ground saw heavy footfall of locals and tourists on Monday with relaxation in Curfew for eight hours in the day. Police Officer Santosh Thakur said that patrolling was being done by number of man and woman police personnel in uniform and Challan are being issue as soon as any one is found without a mask in the public. Corona cases are coming down every day in the state but it was achieved by losing thousands of lives, draining out the economy and livelihood, education and liberty of public should not be allowed to spoil in any negligence to abide Covid guidelines , cautioned another businessman of town Vikash Thakur.
Summer and early Monsoon season are the times when Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie saw heavy footfall of tourists even more than snowy winters. It would be not easy for the Administration to manage the crowd efficiently, he said.
Shimla district reported 30 new cases of corona virus and 237 on Sunday and seven people died of it. Number of Cases mounted up to 198550 in the state and active cases 4777
