A day after the Telangana High Court went overboard to ask the KCR government to take a decision on night curfews within 48 hours, the government on Tuesday announced night curfews with immediate effect. 

Starting from tonight, the State will be locked down from 9 pm to 5 am till May 1, 2021. All firms, shops, establishments, restaurants, workplaces will have to be mandatorily closed by 8 pm. 

However, essential services like doctors, hospitals, government staff, media have been exempted from the night curfew. Diagnostic labs, pharmacies, etc. will be allowed to operate. Delivery of goods through e-commerce, water supply and sanitation, cold storage, petrol pumps, private security services, among others, will be allowed to operate. 

The movement of persons will be probited during the night curfew with some exceptions. Apart from those engaged in essential services, those travelling out of station or coming to Telangana can travel. But they have to show a valid ticket when asked by police. 

The government, in its order, highlighted that there shall be no restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement of goods, both essential and non-essential. This will avert any shortages for businesses, which are expected to operate smoothly during the day.