Signs of normalcy returned to riot-hit areas of northeast Delhi yesterday with people venturing out of their homes to buy groceries and medicines from a few shops that were opened amid intensified patrolling by security personnel.

Since early morning, civic workers were seen clearing roads of bricks, glass shards and burnt vehicles and tyres in the aftermath of three days violence that left 42 people dead and over 200 injured.

The number of people and vehicles in the streets of Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Yamuna Vihar, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad and Bhajanpura was higher than those in the previous five days.

These are among the areas worst affected by the communal violence that erupted on February 23 over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

Personnel of the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces encouraged people to open their shops and appealed for peace and communal harmony.

Schools in northeast Delhi will remain closed till March 7 and board exams there will be held at a later date.

People were seen searching frantically for their loved ones at the Guru Tegh Bahadur hospital.

Forty-eight-year-old Madeena, whose son has been missing since Tuesday following the violence, was seen running to police stations to find if he was still alive.