AP Night Curfew To Be Implemented From Jan 18, After Sankranti

Andhra  Pradesh Government, led by the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) decided to revise night curfew guidelines.

According to sources, the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy Government announced to impose night curfew after the 18th of January, in the view of Makar Sankranti and Pongal festival. Notably, ponagal is one of the main festivals celebrated in the Telugu state. The night curfew would be imposed from January 18 and remain in force till January 31, according to a GO issued by the principal secretary to the government Anil Kumar Singhal on Tuesday, the 11th of January.

The Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas alias Nani said the implementation of the curfew was postponed to avoid inconvenience to the people as large numbers of people from the towns were flocking to the villages during the festival season.

He said the government was ready to deal with the Covid-19 third wave. He appealed to people to wear masks without fail and violation of the mask rule would incur a fine of Rs 100. He requested the people to cooperate with the government to contain the pandemic. Notably, the imposed night curfew from the 18th of January, would be in effect from 10:00 P.M., to 6:00 A.M.  In addition, According to the revised GO, exemptions during the period of night curfew will apply for hospitals, diagnostic labs, pharmacies. print and electronic media, telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting services, IT and IT-enabled services; petrol pumps, power generation, transmission and distribution, water supply and sanitation; government officers /officials including officers of Andhra Pradesh High Court and other courts, urban local bodies and panchayat raj institutions on emergency duty, all medical personnel; pregnant women and patients for the purpose of receiving medical care.

Furthermore, people coming from and to railway stations and airport would also be exempted from the imposed curfew.

Anyone found violating the COVID-19 guidelines and rules of curfew, would be penalised a fine of Rs 10,000 to 25,000