Kothagattu (Karimnagar): Kothagattu, a small town in Shankarapatnam, about 32 km from the city of Karimnagar, bears the appearance of a ghost town despite its 3000 inhabitants. One is greeted by obituaries hanging at the entrance of the town, on street corners and even on the trees while mourning the deaths of loved ones, all victims of Covid-19.
At least 12 people were killed Covid-19 within a short span of 20 days, a village official said. Afraid of the continuing deaths, the residents are afraid to risk their homes. The village has 620 houses and occupies a large number Covid positive cases in the second wave. By the way, Kothagattu reported only one death in the first wave of the pandemic last year.
Although the exact reason for the high incidence of positive cases has not yet been determined, 12 people died between April 25 and May 15. Every day, one death was reported from 1 to 15 May. Except for one, all the deceased were over the age of 60 years. Villagers, who disputed the numbers of village officials, said about 30 people had died in the second wave so far, and more than 300 people had tested positive for the virus. In each house there are two to three people under Covid-19, they said.
The deaths began with the death of Ravindra Chary, 48, the priest of the famous Sri Mastyagirindra Swamy temple on April 25. His son Kiran also died after six days. Although they are residents of Vennampalli, they spent the whole day in Kothagattu, Mr. Kishan Rao said.
In the wake of positive cases, the gram panchayat imposed a lock on the town from May 8, four days before the state-wide lock was locked. People may come out from 06:00 to 11:00 to buy essential products. Only four people died Covid-19 while the survivors, who were also infected by the virus, died of a heart attack due to the panic situation they ended up in, the sarpanch said.
Koti, a resident, said the villagers are in the grip of panic after death. While some people died in hospitals while being treated, others in the town themselves breathed their last. People could not overcome the virus even though they spent large amounts on treatment in private hospitals, he said.
Koti called on the district administration to organize a special medical camp in the town and treat positive patients, in addition to informing the people of the precautions to be taken to investigate the virus.
However, Kishan Rao said that in addition to being a corona test camp, the first dose of vaccine was also administered to 340 people in a special camp in the town. Some of the villagers took vaccine in Shankarapatnam, he added. About 150 villagers are suffering from fever and other symptoms that were carried out during the recent fever survey, he said.
Source: Telangana Today