Puducherry to go under complete weekend lockdown from today - what's allowed, what's not

In view of the rising cases of COVID-19 across the country, the Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Tuesday announced a complete lockdown in the Union Territory starting from Friday (April 23) night.

The lockdown will be in place from 10 pm on Friday (April 23) till 5 am on April 26. The order of the lockdown comes after the night curfew order that came on Tuesday. Puducherry had earlier imposed a night curfew from 10 om to 5 am.

As per an official letter, all shops should decide on the timings of closing their shops in such a manner that all of them will be back to their residences by 10 pm. 

Hotels have been asked to close down dine-in services by 8 pm, with only home delivery services open till 10 pm. Due to the lockdown no interstate buses will be operated from Puducherry and from outstation to Puducherry.

Meanwhile, according to an order issued by Deputy Commissioner (Excise) T Sudhakar on Thursday (April 22), all liquor, arrack and toddy shops including bars, restaurants and hotels serving liquor will function up to 2 pm from Monday to Friday, from April 26 to April 30 in Puducherry.

The shops will remain shut on weekends on Saturday and Sunday beginning from April 23, the order stated.