Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

Residents of Phuentsholing town had started preparing for a lockdown stocking essentials even before Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering  announced the nationwide lockdown yesterday evening.

The thromde will enforce complete lockdown from 2pm today till 8am on December 24. It will also be implemented in highrisk zones under the drungkhag. 

All businesses, constructions, and offices must close before 1pm. 

The thromde has asked people not to panic and buy essentials as the complete lockdown is only an interim measure which woud be relaxed zonewise from tomorrow. 

A businesswoman, Pabitra Rai, said she stocked essential items that could last for two weeks.

A corporate employee, Tshewang from Pasakha had come to Phuentsholing for shopping early yesterday.

“We never know what will happen next,” he said.

By evening, rumour of a  possible nationwide lockdown had spread and many people had already started queuing at the multi-storied vegetable complex. The departmental stores and smaller groceries were also getting crowded by the evening.

Many Phuentsholing residents had finished visiting the stores and vegetable complex before the lockdown was announced.

After the 7pm announcement of the nationwide lockdown, more people rushed to the town. They were allowed to shop until 9pm.

Meanwhile, Phuentsholing flu-clinic at the multilevel car parking lot had tested 329 people who returned from Thimphu as of yesterday.