A huge crowd thronged Hyderabad's Charminar ahead of Eid celebrations on Friday, completely disregarding the restrictions imposed to contain the Covid spread in Telangana. The state is currently under a 10-day lockdown from Wednesday, with a four-hour break between 6 and 10 in the morning to allow people to buy essentials.
At Charminar in the old quarters of Hyderabad, tens of thousands of people were seen at the Madina market, shopping for the Eid festival. People flouted Covid protocols- masks were missing and social distancing went for a toss. A traffic jam also built up in several parts of the old city.
Anticipating festival crowds, Telangana Home Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali barred public gatherings in open places and said people must offer prayers inside their homes.