Bhatkal: People rushed to markets here to buy essentials after the lockdown imposed in the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak was relaxed for a few hours on Tuesday. The lockdown was relaxed from 6 am to 10 pm.

After the complete lockdown enforced on Saturday to Monday, a large number of people arrived at the market here on Tuesday morning and thronged the shops for purchasing groceries, vegetables, fruits and other essentials, forgetting social distancing. 

Except hospitals, medical stores and milk booths, all other shops including general stores had remained closed during the complete lockdown throughout Bhatkal.

Only persons who had emergency works were allowed to move.

As people were buying essentials, the police were patrolling the areas and booking cases against those who were violating rules.

Movement of public too has been restricted with police barricading all the roads and deploying policemen at major junctions.