With a week-long prohibitory orders in place, roads in Kathmandu Valley wore a deserted look on Thursday. Shops and businesses were closed and only a few vehicles were seen on the roads.

Starting Wednesday midnight, the chief district officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have put a ban on public mobility, unless for buying medicines and other essentials, and vehicular movements in the Valley.

On the first day of the enforcement of the prohibitory orders, authorities had mobilised security personnel on major road sections of the Valley to enforce the restrictions.

Security personnel were also seen detaining some motorists at various holding zones for being outside without any valid reasons.

The prohibitory orders have been issued as the Valley has witnessed a sharp spike in Covid-19 cases, especially after the government lifted the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown on July 21, after nearly four months.

As the government has authorised the district administration offices to take necessary measures to contain the coronavirus spread, the chief district officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur on Tuesday announced a week-long prohibitory orders starting Wednesday midnight.

The restrictions will remain in force until the midnight of August 26.

Here are some of the photos captured by Hemanta Shrestha and Angad Dhakal on the first day of the restrictions.