J&K Govt orders complete shutdown in all districts till Mar 31

at 8:12 pm

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Government ordered a complete shutdown of all establishments today except essential services across the Union Territory till March 31, in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

“Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates shall issue orders under Section 144 Cr PC and also under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (both Acts) to shutdown all establishments except these providing essential commodities in their districts from Sunday 22 March (08:00 PM) till Tuesday the 31 March 2020 (06 00 PM),” read order by Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam.

Rohit Kansal, government spokesperson, J&K said: “shutdown of all establishments and services except essential commodities/ services throughout J&K from 8:00 pm today till 6 PM March 31. Vehicles carrying essential supplies exempted; essential services too exempted.”


The Government has also restricted assembly of three persons at public places.

Earlier today, Srinagar administration had ordered the closure of all establishments in Srinagar from this evening till March 31.

District Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Shahid Choudhary in a tweet announced:  “There will be complete shutdown of establishments in District #Srinagar w.e.f 8PM 22nd March to 6PM 31st March. Essential Services exempted.”

In view of the situation arising due to COVID-19, Secretary Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Simrandeep Singh today issued an order declaring 16 services as Essential services and commodities within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the order, the Essential Services will include supply of groceries (wholesalers and retailers) supply of fresh fruits and vegetables (mandies and retailers), dispensing of petrol/diesel at pumps, milk shops and dairies and related products, supply of cattle feed and fodder, medicines and other pharmaceuticals (retailers, wholesalers and manufacturing), banks and ATMs, supply of LPG (domestic and commercial), health services ( including movement of staff thereof), manufacturing of health and medical equipment, telecom operators and their designated agencies, newspapers, post offices, loading and unloading of wheat and rice at FCI and state food depots, transportation of essential commodities through National and State Highways (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, Milk, Vegetables, Fruits, groceries, FCI supplies, etc.) and provision of electricity, water supply and Municipal and Sanitary Services (including the movement of staff thereof).