Srinagar: The Covid-19 has put Srinagar among the high-risk zones as the summer capital records 51 positive cases so far since the outbreak of pandemic on March 18.
With eight fresh cases being reported today itself, seven of them non-local visitors, a fresh fear has gripped entire district.
Official figures suggest that in Srinagar alone, 51people have been tested positive so far of which seven are non-local visitors. The figure is highest among all districts of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT).
Even though Deputy Commissioner Srinagar tweeted: “Eight positive cases today sounds panicky but it’s not. This is a classic tracing success story: Found a group of non-locals visitors, acted fast, quarantined. 7/8 fare from group, 8th their local contact. Please help report.”
However, DC’s tweet triggered a massive debate on the Facebook with many questioning as to how the group entered Srinagar and where from they entered. “If Government claims robust system in place, where from this group entered into Srinagar which is a high risk zone amid strict lockdown. Had they entered earlier, when they were not sent back,” posted a Facebook user.
Many residents in Srinagar said that situation seems to be getting bad to worse. “If the pace of positive cases continues to rise the same way, time is not far, Srinagar would turn into Italy or France. We many die inside our homes,” said Nisar Ahmed, a resident of Chattabal area that has already been declared a red zone.
“We pray to God to save Kashmir from turning into second Italy or France. We can’t fight this pandemic if it spreads further, we are hapless people.”
Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary and Senior Superintendent of Police for Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal stated that from Friday, there would be strict lockdown across Srinagar and all the passes issued by the district administration would be invalid.
The administration’s decision to enforce strict lockdown comes close on the heels of spurt in the Covid-19 positive cases in J&K.
“Despite the fact that we are fighting an invisible enemy, people are not cooperating with us. Even on the eve of Shab-e-Baraat on Thursday night, we were forced to register four FIRs as some people insisted to hold night-long prayers in mosques,” the SSP had said. “People must understand that it’s not a militancy issue or a law and order problem. We are fighting an invisible enemy in form of Covid-19.”
In Thursday’s presser, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar said that 800 people didn’t reveal their travel history on time. He said had those people cooperated with the administration on time, perhaps the situation would have been different so far. The DC Srinagar also stated that the next four days were crucial to decide which way the situation is heading. (KINS)