Karachi on the eve of lockdown

Eateries, recreational spots deserted, people throng shops and railway station

It was the calm in the middle of a storm.

An almost eerie silence gripped Karachi on Sunday morning, as its citizens thought it better stay home amid the rising coronavirus fears, COVID-19’s rapidly climbing tally and consistent calls for self-isolation and social distancing by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
Normally bustling with activity, its streets, markets and roads were deserted.

Karachi had come to a standstill and unlike on other Sundays when families came out in droves to make the most of their weekend, yesterday they avoided stepping out, as the only measure to protect themselves against the coronavirus outbreak.

Road traffic remained thin on the day and the usually crowded hotels serving breakfast were shrouded in quietness in the midst of the coronavirus disquiet, with very few visitors. The much-frequented hotels and tea shops in Boat Basin, Burns Road, Hussainabad and other areas experienced minimal footfall – unprecedented on a Sunday in the populous city.



The same was the case with recreational spots, primarily Sea View, which was closed to visitors some days ago.

However, as the day went on, citizens crowded grocery shops and bought necessary items in large quantities – a step also motivated by fear and rumours of a province-wide lockdown.

And all this while, commuters thronged Karachi Cantonment Railway Station, many among them looking to escape to their hometowns.

While doing so, as they themselves ignored the government’s calls for social distancing and self-isolation, the passengers also complained of not enough measures being taken to screen the passengers at the station. Moreover, they pointed to the delays in the arrival of trains as one of the primary reasons behind large crowds gathering at the station.

Little did they know, stricter measures were to come in the near future.

In the thick of the furore, confusion and uncertainty gripping the city, the Sindh government finally announced a complete province-wide lockdown post midnight on Sunday, seeing it as the only way to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Though it was the calm in the middle of the storm, the underlying fear, anxiety and chaos was still there.