Many people commute during silence hour in Punjab
What's the story
Many people kept moving in their vehicles in Punjab from 11 am till noon on Saturday as they say they were unaware of the state government's decision to observe an hour's silence in memory of those who succumbed to COVID-19.
Police stopped intra-city traffic at some places and it led to long queues of vehicles causing inconvenience to commuters.
Rules and regulations
No intra-city traffic movement allowed during 'Silence Hour'
The Punjab government had announced an hour of silence from 11 am on every Saturday starting March 27 in memory of all those who lost their lives to the contagion.
Traffic movement would not be allowed, except on state and national highways. Intra-city vehicular traffic should not be plied, as per orders.
Sirens were sounded to indicate the start and end of the period.
Silence Hour
People were unclear about the guidelines
In Ludhiana, a commuter in a car said he was unaware of the state government's decision about silence hour, adding that he was going to meet some patient at a local hospital.
A two-wheeler rider in Hoshiarpur said he also did not know about the silence period. People at many places including Ludhiana, Sangrur, Mansa, and Moga, were commuting from 11 am till noon.
Further details
People with emergency can commute during the hour
A police official in Hoshiarpur said they were appealing to people to stop their vehicles during the one-hour silence period. He, however, said people will be allowed to commute in case of an emergency.
On Friday, the state had reported 3,176 infections, the highest single-day spike, while 59 more people died of the virus.