Government frightened with overcrowding on hill stations, warns of lockdown

New Delhi : The Health Ministry on Tuesday said that it is frightening to see how people have packed hill stations after the lockdown restrictions were relaxed. The government has asked people to comply with Covid-appropriate behaviour.

The Union Health ministry has also written to the Himachal Pradesh government over rampant flouting of COVID- appropriate behaviour in Shimla and Manali, sources told CNN-News18.

Pictures from hill stations in Himachal Pradesh shows how thousands of people have gone to various places to get some relief from the heatwave in plains.

Last month, Himachal Pradesh government had announced ease of restrictions after coronavirus cases dipped in the state. Following this tourists started to move to higher altitudes, especially to Shimla, Kullu-Manali, and Dharamshala.

At the Health Ministry briefing on Tuesday, Dr Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR, said: “Pictures from hill stations are frightening. People must comply with COVID-appropriate behaviour."

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, also sounded alarm on the situation saying that people travelling to hill stations are not following Covid-appropriate behaviour. “We can nullify the ease in restrictions again if protocols not complied with," he said.