Srinagar: A day after a lady detected positive for the novel coronavirus, government authorities on Thursday banned all types of public transport include buses, mini buses, maxi cabs and auto rickshaws in district Srinagar with immediate effect till further orders.
“To mitigate the transmission of COVID 19 in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it is hereby ordered that no bus services/ Mini Bus Service /Maxi cab services/Auto passengers service shall ply in district Srinagar with immediate effect till further order,” reads the order issued by Regional Transport Officer Kashmir.
“Further, no public transport shall enter District Srinagar from the North, South, or Central district of Kashmir Division,” the order further said.
As per official records, there are 1500 passenger buses, 4000 mini buses, nearly 20,000 Tata Sumo cabs which have been grounded due to the coronavirus scare.
Railway authorities have also suspended train services in view of the situation. As per a railway official, trains from Banihal to Barmulla and vice verse will remain suspended till March 31.
Early in the morning, restrictions on movement of people were imposed in several areas of Srinagar, including the old city, as a precaution.

NAZIMA SIDIQ