Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 30: Dakshina Kannada (DK) district is in its third straight day of total lockdown today, and all commercial establishments are closed. But going by the response of the citizens during the first two days, the third day's picture has been disheartening.

In the morning on Monday, March 30, a few shops were open. The people, overlooking the basic need to maintain social distance, were seen to vie with each other to buy things they needed. Today, vehicular traffic was more and the people do not seem to have taken the warning issued by the police to seize the vehicles of violators seriously.

A couple of shops were open at Marnamikatta and Attavar in the morning today. People bought fruits and vegetables without wearing masks and without feeling the need to maintain social distance. The people showed this urgency by risking their health despite assurance from the minister to allow shops to function from 6 am to 3 pm tomorrow.

In rural places too, shops were seen doing business clandestinely through the backdoor. Some were seen jacking up prices of fruits and vegetables, duly uisng the opportunity provided by the situation.