DK gears up for Janata Curfew

Mangaluru:

Dakshina Kannada

is getting ready for a total

shutdown

on Sunday, following a request from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to observe Janata Curfew.

Organisations of bus owners, merchants and other establishments have agreed to close down their premises on Sunday. Temples, masjids and churches too will be closed. Meanwhile, all hospitals will be open for emergency cases.

Though no positive cases were reported in the district, the

district administration

is leaving no stone unturned to prevent the spread of the disease. As a precautionary measure, the district administration has closed 16 out of 17 roads that connect Dakshina Kannada with Kasaragod district of Kerala, where six

Covid-19

positive cases were reported. However, in Dakshina Kannada, all 89 samples tested for Covid-19 have come out negative.

District minister

Kota Shrinivas Poojari

appealed to the people to strictly follow the guidelines and cooperate with the district administration to prevent the spread of the disease. “The 16 roads on the Karnataka-Kerala border in Dakshina Kannada will be closed till midnight on March 31. However, vehicles will be allowed in case of emergencies, under the Essential Commodities Act, to transport essential commodities mentioned in the act. Meanwhile, passengers in all coaches of trains that arrive in railway stations in the city will be thoroughly screened. Ships will not be allowed to dock at the Old Port in the city till midnight on March 31,” Kota said.

The minister also appealed to the people to either impose restrictions or cancel festivals and rituals in temples, mosques and churches.

“The entire nation is prepared to shut down on Sunday, with people cutting across political parties and religions readily agreeing to heed the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chief minister B S Yediyurappa has appealed to the people to stay at home on Sunday. People should postpone all programmes, including marriages,” he added.

Mosque shuts down

Al Khaleel Masjid

at Nellikai Road in the city has closed its gates as a preventive measure to check the spread of Covid-19. The managing committee of the masjid has put up a banner, informing community members that as a precautionary measure, there will be no entry into the masjid till the next order.

Dakshina Kannada khazi Twaqa Ahmed Al Azhari said, “The world is in a very critical phase. We have already entered stage 2 of the Covid-19 outbreak, and we cannot imagine the consequences if it crosses this stage. The situation in Kasaragod district is very distressing. A situation is prevailing where congregations are not possible in mosques. Hence, no one should question if they are asked to offer namaz at homes. As per Islam, one will get heaven if he saves others’ lives by staying at home. Let us pray to Allah who is supreme.”

Meanwhile, Christians in the district decided to participate in the obligatory Sunday mass online or through television. Temples have restricted the entry of devotees and cancelled all festivals. Some temples, including the Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple, have requested devotees not to visit the shrines till further notice.