Streams of people and vehicles moved along the streets, a cacophony of honking, shouting, urging, crying, and running feet.
The unease in people's hearts spread like a plague, throwing nearly half the city into anxious disarray. The chaos was more pronounced the closer one was to the repair zone.
Fortunately, hundreds of brightly colored official vehicles were parked at various corners of the downtown area. Their loudspeakers, in conjunction with the city's broadcast system and thousands of grassroots workers, helped maintain order as the crowd moved towards underground shelters.
Omnipresent surveillance deterred those with malicious intent from stepping out of line. Grassroots workers were also granted greater operational authority than usual.
By now, residents of the target area had all been evacuated. Several armed helicopters equipped with searchlights hovered above the repair zone.
