Mumbai: Responding to popular demand, the Maharashtra government has decided to shut down all theatres for three days starting Thursday. Also all educational institutions including coaching classes will have to shut for seven days.
"All education institutions will remain shut for the next seven days," said Chaggan Bhujbal, Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra.
After Pune it's now Mumbai.
The state government has ordered all educational institutions to shut for seven days. All single screen cinemas and multiplexes will be shut for three days.
On Tuesday the Mumbai civic chief had asked the city to decide by SMS on whether schools and colleges should be shut down. Wednesday's decision clearly is bowing to popular sentiment.
"It is a good decision. People should also be careful and should take precautions. They should not go out in public places unless necessary," said a Mumbaikar.
However, another Mumbai resident didn't agree, he said: "It is good for the younger children, but what about the older children. Their exams are coming. Their studies will be adversely impacted."
The other big swine flu casualty is the popular Dahi Handi festival set for Friday. Most big organisers in Mumbai and Pune have decided to call it off sticking to small prayer functions instead.
"We will celebrate the birth of Kirshna the previous night. We will do a small traditional Handi. But, the competition aspect of it will not happen," said Jitendra Ahwad, organiser, Dahi Handi festival.
But the question being asked: Is this an avoidable over reaction?
"You see over the past few weeks whenever a child has got swine flu, it is the school that has been highlighted. So, you cannot blame the parents for putting pressure on schools," said Vandana Lulla, Principal, Poddar International School.
Whether to shut down schools or not has been a contentious issue with the WHO saying it does not necessarily control a virus that's already spread in community. But the question is how long can schools be shut beyond the one week period.