Life in Hindpiri: Watching TV, terrace cricket new normal

Gaurav Pandey | TNN | Updated: Apr 26, 2020, 14:46 IST

RANCHI: With exit and entry points sealed, calling up helpline numbers for any need and depending on volunteers for ration and medical assistance have become the new normal for residents of Hindpiri locality, the epicentre of Covid-19 outbreak in the city.
However, the residents have become restless and nervous after over three weeks of curfew-like situation without any sign of waning in the number of new Covid-19 cases in the locality. They are now on their toes on who could be infected next — themselves or their near and dear ones.
A few journalists, who hailed from the area and asked by their respective employers to go on leave, are also getting restless after sitting idle for many days. Md Imran, a journalist from the area, said, “These days, I am sticking to my mobile phone and check WhatsApp groups for the latest information. I am also sending out messages and guidelines released by the district administration to people in the area to stay orders and follow the norms.”
Several residents also told TOI over the phone that they are trying to adapt to the changes in their daily routine but with extreme difficulties. Office-goers and businessmen said boredom is slowly taking over as they used to be busy whole throughout the day earlier. While the older generation are either stuck to the TV or trying to learn indoor games to pass time, the youths asked how long they can play video games watch TV and said they missed their bike rides and streetfood. Senior citizens, on the other hand, are a worried lot because of the lack of medicines and delay in delivery of ration.
Md Afasar, a businessman from the Ekra mosque lane, said, “I used to be very busy the whole day as I have a transport business, but with lockdown and sealing of my area, I am now totally dependent on TV to pass time. I have only four things to do — watch news, play with kids, pray and sleep. I am also incurring losses as my business is hit, but I think we are helpless and nothing can be done on that front.”
Gulfam Hasan (name changed), a senior citizen and a resident of Nizam nagar area, said, “I am a diabetic and have been hearing that if I call up a helpline number, medicines will be provided, but it takes more than 24 hours for any kind of assistance. I had tried to buy medicines on a couple of occasions, but the shops are closed. I am only praying that the sealing ends soon.”
For people living on the Lake Road area, which has not been affected badly, have their own share of woes. The residents complained that they are being “punished” only because their area falls under the Hindpiri police station limits and argued that the administration should ease movement in their area on a par with other parts of the city. “There is a complete sealing in our stretch even when our houses fall on the outer side of Hindpiri. As control and command centre is about 2km away from here, whenever we need assistance of any kind, it becomes very difficult in approaching the authorities,” a Lake Road resident said.
Another resident, Bablu Choudhary, added, “We are following lockdown orders and understand the gravity of situation, but with more than a fortnight of sealing, the children are becoming restless and I have to play cricket with them on the terrace to keep them engaged. I do not know how long can we live like this.”