Shutdown prone Kashmir least bothered by COVID lockdown, says Google

Srinagar:  People in Jammu and Kashmir seemingly are least bothered about the COVID 19 lockdown.

Google trends reveal that there are only a few states including Rajasthan (40), Andhra Pradesh (41), and Jammu and Kashmir (35) where people have not searched or read much about the lockdown on the internet.

The calculation of Google Trends is based on a graph that shows a relative frequency of any search term on a scale of zero to 100. Hundred represents the highest level.

Jammu and Kashmir last year witnessed lockdown for more than 100 days after Centre abrogated article 370. The internet services were snapped for five months, while 4G services are yet to be restored.  Before 2019, Kashmir witnessed its biggest lockdown in 2016 when the entire valley was shut for more than six months after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

Experts say since Kashmir has seen lockdowns before, they are least bothered about this phenomenon. And that is why Kashmiris took to social media and shared tips about surviving this lockdown.   “On a lighter note if anyone wants tips of surviving quarantine or a lockdown I have months of experience at my disposal, perhaps a blog is in order,” tweeted Omar Abdullah, former J&K chief minister.

Google trends reveal that the impact of the lockdown on the psychology of the people has been more in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Delhi, and Uttrakhand.

As per Google Trends, news related to the lockdown has been mostly searched in the last one week. Google Trends graph has hit 100 and 95 mark in Chandigarh and Delhi respectively.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Google Trends curve has reached its maximum. For the last one month, Google searches on the word “lockdown” have reached 100 mark.

In Goa and New Delhi, Google searches on “lockdown dates” have also increased to 98 and 86 mark, respectively.  Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Meghalaya have recorded 78, 78, 71 and71, on the scale respectively.