Thackeray hints at lockdown extension, flight restrictions

Mumbai, May 24 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, here on Sunday, hinted at further extension of the lockdown after May 31 and proposed restrictions on plans to resume domestic flights from May 25 as the Covid-19 situation could worsen after the onset of monsoon.Addressing the state, Thackeray said it was not proper to impose the lockdown suddenly and now it couldn't be lifted abruptly as it would be detrimental to the people."We will have to study the situation carefully before moving ahead. The coming weeks are critical as the spread of coronavirus is increasing. People must exercise extreme precautions during monsoon," Thackeray said.Hours after Home Minister Anil Deshmukh red-flagged the Centre's plans to resume domestic flights from Monday, Thackeray spoke with Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri on the issue."The Chief Minister has communicated that till Mumbai International Airport plans and finetunes airport operations, they (Centre) should initiate minimum possible domestic flights from Maharashtra from Monday. "These should be purely emergent in nature, like for international transfer passengers, medical emergencies, students and cases on compassionate grounds," said an official from the CMO.
--IANS qn/pcj