PHOTOS VIRAL: 3 TN CITIES WITNESS HEAVY TRAFFIC AFTER 'INTENSE LOCKDOWN’ ENDS

After a four-day "intense lockdown" in Tamil Nadu, the state witnessed heavy traffic in three cities of the state which are Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai. This heavy movement of traffic was witnessed after the state government announced relaxation after four-day COVID-19 lockdown. 

News agency ANI tweeted photos from Coimbatore where heavy traffic was seen on the road as any normal day. This normalcy in traffic was noticed at a time when social distancing is the priority in the country. 

Earlier in the week, the Tamil Nadu government had announced an intense lockdown in the state which began on April 26 and ended on April 29. This step was taken to reduce the COVID-19 cases in the state. Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Tirupur were put under an “intense lockdown”. 

Amid the lockdown in the country and state, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that shops selling essential items, vegetables and fruits will open between 6:00 am to 5:00 pm in these cities. However, the timings for shops will be between 6:00 am and 1:00 pm from May 1.

“Our government is taking steps to curtail COVID-19 on a war footing. Except for Chennai, the spread of coronavirus is under control in all other districts in the state. All the district collectors are doing a good job,” Palaniswami said on Wednesday.

“People are directed to wear masks while visiting the shops," he further added. 

Tamil Nadu: Heavy traffic in Coimbatore after CM Edappadi Palaniswami yesterday announced that shops will remain open from 6 am to 5pm for essential items, vegetables & fruits in Chennai, Coimbatore & Madurai for today. pic.twitter.com/lVROCNIXKf

— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2020