COVID-19: Three more villages declared Red Zone in Pulwama

PULWAMA — As three new positive cases of COVID-19 surfaced in Pulwama district, the authorities today declared Larkipora village of Tehsil Awantipora; Naibugh village of Tehsil Tral and 300 meter radius of Nambalbal Pampore as Red Zone villages including Padgampora, Ghat Tokuna, Beighpora, Malangpora, Dangerpora and Goripora; Ameerabad, Sherabad, Dadsara and Nowdal; Kadalbal, Drangbal, Tulbagh, Neibugh Bagandar and Frestabal as Buffer Zone in Tehsil Awantipora, Tral and Pampore respectively.

Invoking prohibitory orders under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, Section 144 of the CrPC and Disaster Management Act 2005, district authorities said that there would be no inward and outward movement of any person from the villages declared as Red Zone and the people shall stay indoors to ensure complete lockdown. He warned of stern action against violators as per provision of relevant Acts.

The order was issued in view 3 more persons from the district testing positive of COVID-19 on May 07, taking the total number of positive cases to 09 in the district. Among the three positive cases, one is a resident of Pampore who is admitted in Srinagar hospital from the last one month undergoing a treatment for a fracture.

Contact tracing of family members and relatives who have visited the person has been initiated. Another elderly male from Larkipora, Padgampora who has been intermittently visiting Srinagar hospital for liver treatment has tested positive for COVID-19. Aggressive contact tracing of all the contacts has been initiated.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old lady from Naibugh, Nowdal Tral who was operated and later on discharged from a Srinagar hospital 10 days back has reported positive for Coronavirus. The family members of the positive case are already in quarantine and further contacts are being traced.

The DM said that it becomes imperative to take stringent precautionary measures including declaring village as Red Zone and surrounding villages as a Buffer Zone to break transmission of the disease in the area.

DM directed the officials concerned to ensure supply of essential commodities as per laid down protocols in the villages falling in Red Zone and Buffer Zone areas.

Earlier, 25 villages including Khaigam, Sangerwani, Abhama, Rahmoo, Gusso, Frasipora, Drabgam Bala, Drabgam Payeen, Shairbagh, Dardpora and Gori-check of Tehsil Rajpora and Gudoora, Chandgam, Pinglena and Parigam of Tehsil Pulwama, Reshipora, Chirat, Mohanviji, Banderpora, Chirat, Wandakpora, Kakapora town of Tehsil Kakapora, Samboora, Alochchi Bagh and Hatwari of Tehsil Pampore, a portion of IGC Lassipora were declared Red Zone.

These areas are continuously under strict restrictions and people have been advised to abide by the orders and any violation shall invoke Section 269 IPC (unlawfully or negligently doing something which is likely to spread infection of any dangerous disease to life), Section 270 IPC (malignant act likely to spread infection of dangerous disease to life), Section 271 IPC (knowingly disobeying any quarantine rule) and Section 188 IPC (for disobeying the government orders).

To ensure coordination, joint control rooms with dedicated nodal officers have been established and people from Red Zone areas have been asked to contact 24X7 COVID Control Room (01933-240412, 01933-240912) for COVID-19 queries and emergencies.

Moreover, people hailing from the Red Zone villages have been asked to contact round the clock (24×7) District Emergency Control Room in case of any grievance regarding the essential services & other related issues on landline: 01933-240354.