By IANS,
Lucknow : Several localities here wore a deserted look Wednesday as people preferred to stay indoors and watch India play Pakistan at the cricket World Cup semifinals.
Vehicles virtually disappeared from busy streets like Kursi Road, Panna Lal Road and Dandaiya Road. It seemed as if a curfew had been imposed on the Uttar Pradesh capital.
“No customer has come to my shop after 12 noon. Had today been a normal day, you would have to wait for at least 15 minutes to even speak to me owing to the heavy rush,” said Ashok Kumar, owner of Ashirwad Book Store on Jopling Road.
It was the same story in Old Lucknow including areas like Chowk, Thakurganj, Aishbagh and Aminabad.
“Our sales today will definitely drop by over 50 percent,” said Aslam Beg, owner of a garment shop on Gwyne Road in Aminabad.
Even offices of political parties were deserted.
“Most people are at the media centre which has a TV set. As this is a match between India and Pakistan, no one wants to miss it,” BJP spokesman V.B. Pathak said.