Team Herald
MARGAO: Margao town wore a deserted look on Sunday as people voluntarily stayed at home due to the Janata Curfew call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and police ensured that people stayed at home which resulted in one Police Sub Inspector being withdrawn from his official posting.
All the major markets in Margao were closed today. While the SGPDA market at Fatorda and the New Market in Margao had their entrance gates closed the Gandhi market was totally closed with no shop keeper operating. The wholesale fish market at Fatorda was also totally deserted.
For the first time in history churches remained closed and faithful were advised to pray from home where the liturgy was read along with prayers of the faithful. Our Lady of Rosary church at Navelim, Grace Church at Margao and Holy Spirit Church at Old Market had their doors and gates closed.
All the petrol pumps in Margao were closed and the Kadama Transport Corporation managed bus stand was totally deserted. The Konkan Railway Corporation station at Margao wore a lonely look as only those passenger trains that had already commenced their journey stopped there while no new trains originated. Goods trains however continued operating.
The streets of Margao that are usually packed with vehicles plying were totally abandoned today with a stray two-wheeler and even rare four-wheeler passing by. In fact the streets were so deserted that some boys used them as cricket pitches to play for some time.
The Goa Shopping exhibition that was supposed to be open on Sunday closed down and the organiers removed all infrastructure erected for it and the vendors have left Margao.
In the evening, however, police picked up the manager of Bharat Café that had started preparing snacks like samosas and batatwada to be served to customers who would come in the evening and the snack joint was closed down.
