Vishakhapatanam: Despite a health advisory, thousands of people lowered their guard and crowded around at tourist spots and the Simhachalam temple on Sunday, the first Sunday after day-curfew was withdrawn from July 1.
Most people, particularly from outside Visakhapatnam, were seen at Rushikonda Beach from the morning hours. Many were not wearing the mandatory facemasks and playing in the water in groups. There were long queues on the shore to board speed boats even as they hiked the charges three times per trip and each trip lasted no more than five minutes.
“We got bored for months under the curfew. We drove down all the way from Raipur,’’ said Eknath, a tourist from Chhattisgarh, while waiting for his turn for the boat ride.
The next crowded place was Simhachalam temple where devotees started arriving from the early hours.
“Today, there were around 30,000 visitors. Yesterday, some 22,000 had darshan of the deity,’’ said a temple functionary.
Those who went to places like TU 142, the aircraft museum and INS Kursura Submarine Museum found they remained closed, and people were seen taking pictures.
A rain in the afternoon also did not prevent people from moving towards the beachfronts. People thronged RK Beach, Tenneti Park, Thotlakonda and Coast Battery area on the beach road.
Health officials expressed their concern over the crowding of people on the beaches, shopping malls and at fish markets.
“People should have waited for some more time before venturing out. Positive cases are being reported every day and there are many Covid patients in hospitals. In addition, the threat of a third wave persists,’’ stated a senior medical officer.
