All you need to know about the cities under lockdown, curfew as coronavirus cases climb up in India

With several cities in India is witnessing a spike in daily coronavirus cases, state governments have decided to impose lockdown or night curfew in order to curb the spread. India on Friday recorded the highest new COVID-19 cases of this year. Despite the vaccination drive against coronavirus, India is witnessing an upward trajectory in COVID-19 cases.

As per the union health ministry data, Most of the new cases are from Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Consequently, Maharashtra government has imposed partial lockdown or curfew to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

List of cities where Maharashtra government has imposed restrictions:

1. Nagpur lockdown

A week-long lockdown with strict restrictions came into force in Nagpur district of Maharashtra on March 15.

2. Pune curfew

District officials in Pune have imposed a night curfew from 11 pm to 6 am. Adding to that, the district administration has directed schools and colleges to remain shut till March 31. Hotels and restaurants have been allowed to function till 10 pm, and food deliveries have been permitted till 11 pm. Malls and multiplexes owners have been directed to operate till 11 pm.

3. Wardha curfew

In Wardha, the district administration has imposed a curfew from 8 pm to 8 am on Monday. All shops, restaurants, hotels, petrol pumps have also been asked to shut their operation during this period. Only shops selling essential items have been allowed to remain open.

4. Nasik curfew

Night curfew has been imposed in Nasik between 7 pm and 7 am. Although, hotels and restaurants can remain open till 9 pm with 50 per cent capacity. The administration has also put a cap of 25-30 people at weddings or any other event.

5. Nanded curfew

Night curfew has been imposed on Nanded from 7 pm to 7 am until March 21.

6. Panvel curfew

In Panvel, night curfew has been imposed from 11 pm to 5 am until March 22. During this period all educational institutes will remain shut, except Class10 and 12.

Apart from Maharashtra, other Indian states which have imposed night curfews or lockdown are:

1. Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a night curfew in Indore and Bhopal from 10 pm to 6 am. Moreover, shops will be closed after 10 pm in Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Ratlam, Chhindwara, Burhanpur, Betul, and Khargone. The state has also banned public programme on Holi festival but given permission to celebrate individually.

2. Gujarat

In Gujarat, the government has decided to increase the night curfew timings in four major cities by two hours. The curfew will now remain in force in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot from 10 pm to 6 am.

3. Uttarakhand

The district magistrate has ordered complete lockdown in parts of Mussoorie, which includes, Galway Cottage area, St. George's School, and Barlow Ganj area. As per the order, all shops and offices will be closed till further announcements.

4. Punjab

In Punjab, a total of eight districts are under the night curfew--Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Nawanshahr. The curfew is imposed from 11 pm to 5 am in these eight districts. The Department of School Education has declared "preparatory leaves" for all classes in both private and government schools. However, teachers will continue to remain present in the schools.

5. Uttar Pradesh

Noida has been put under Section 144 in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of rising corona cases