Srinagar, July 13 -- Authorities in Kashmir began strict implementation of another phase of the lockdown on Sunday, sealing off historic Lal Chowk and 87 other areas in Srinagar which have been declared containment (red) zones after a sudden surge in COVID-19 positive cases over the past one week.

The Srinagar district administration sealed off Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk in an apparent bid to convey its seriousness to the masses about the strict implementation of the second phase of the lockdown.

A senior official said the steps have been necessitated due to the sudden spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the Valley in general and Srinagar city in particular as the authorities tried to ease the lockdown 1.0 restrictions.

"We were ...