COVID-19: In many areas, people block roads to deter entry of outsiders

SRINAGAR — At a time when COVID-19 threat is looming over Kashmir, there are some areas which are completely inaccessible to outsiders. There are also some areas which are least bothered about this pandemic and people in those areas freely mingle with one another, enjoy gossiping and thus throwing the rules to winds.

Government has already declared certain areas as red zones and blocked entry of people into such zones.

Eyewitnesses said that a large number of people at Barsoo Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have blocked the interior road leading to the village. “We don’t allow any outsider to our village. There is threat of community spread of COVID-19 and we are not taking chances,” said a local, Mushtaq Ahmed.

Some villagers are unhappy over the move and ask people to allow at least those who have relatives in the village. “The elders took this decision in the interest of people and from now onwards, no outsider will be allowed to enter into the village,” said Muhammad Sultan.

At Kanelwan area of Bijbehara, there are people who give a damn to COVID-19 threat. People in large numbers can be seen assembling at one place, cracking jokes, killing time and even youth playing cricket. “Everyday police arrives here and people disperse but once police leave, people again assemble. I am at worried at the way people take this pandemic lightly,” said an elderly man.

Reports said that people at Bonapora Nowgam area of Srinagar and Barzulla have also blocked the roads and not allowing entry of outsiders.