Coimbatore: Streets were deserted, commercial establishments were closed and people remained indoors here on the first day of the complete lockdown on Monday.
TNSTC town buses, private buses and mofusill buses stayed off the road. Gandhipuram town bus stand, central bus stand, Singanallur, Ukkadam and Mettupalayam bus stands were deserted as buses were parked in depots. Grocery shops, vegetable markets, fish shops, meat shops and bakeries that opened at 6am, downed shutters by noon. Only take away service was allowed in restaurants and hotels. Hospitals and medical shops were open.
The city police had deployed 1,000 personnel to enforce lockdown norms. But the personnel did not stop those who had stepped out to visit hospitals and to buy medicines and groceries. Cops created awareness about the necessity of using face masks and maintaining social distancing.