Thane, April 11: The district administration of Thane has ordered to shut all vegetable markets and shops till April 14 when the 21-day nationwide lockdown is supposed to end. Collector Rajesh Narvekar issued an order on Friday night after vegetable markets and grocery stores in Thane and Kalyan drew a large number of people in the morning even as the authorities are asking citizens to maintain social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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Buyers flocked to wholesale grocery market at Jambli Naka and Kharkar Ali in Thane on Friday morning, violating important norms such as social distancing when the number of coronavirus cases is rising. "There was a lot of crowd outside the shops in these two markets. There were no guidelines from shop keepers to customers, leading to chaos," Thane Assistant Municipal Commissioner Maruti Gaikwad told Hindustan Times. No Community Transmission of Coronavirus in India, Says Health Ministry.

Thane District Collector Rajesh Narvekar Orders Closure of All Vegetable Markets, Grocery Stores Till April 14:

Consequently, the district administration decided to shut all vegetable markets and shops till April 14. "We have now issued notices to shopkeepers to hire volunteers to ensure social distancing is followed. Action will be taken against those shops found violating the rule," Gaikwad added. In Kalyan too, vegetable markets and grocery stores saw a huge crowd. A long queue, almost 2-km-long, was seen outside a supermarket in Khadakpada area.

In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has asked all shops, except medical stores, to remain shut after 2 pm. "We will ask officials to keep watch on crowded stores," a KDMC official was quoted as saying.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 11, 2020 08:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).