Concerned over the spurt in Covid cases, the East Singhbhum district administration launched a mega drive on Monday by taking out a flag march to drill into people the necessity of following lockdown rules and other safety protocols.

The flagmarch, which was taken out from Sakchi police station, had more than 20 vehicles and was led by senior SP Tamil M Vanan.

It went around various places covering the Sakchi roundabout, Shitla Mandir area, Jhanda Chowk and Straight Mike Road.

The senior SP, accompanied by ADM (law and order) N. K. Lal and other senior police officers, reprimanded several shop owners at Sakchi for not adhering to lockdown orders.

Policemen warn autorickshaw drivers against carrying more than two passengers at Sakchi in Jamshedpur on Monday . Picture by Bhola Prasad

At Sakchi the SP also warned auto-rickshaw drivers not to carry more than two passengers .

The flagmarch later went across Kashidih and Bhalubasa localities where residents were asked to stay indoors and come out only in case of an urgency.

A similar drill was carried out in densely populated Mango locality.

ADM (law and order) Lal said that such drives would be held regularly. "We have decided to continue the drive so as to make people aware of the Covid and lockdown rules," he said.

The steel city reported 562 Covid cases in the past 24-hours and recorded 11 deaths.