Boinda: The surge in Covid-19 cases in rural areas of eight panchayats including Boinda of Kishorenagar block in Angul district has been a cause of concern for the administration.
As per the information available, as many as 281 residents of Nunukapashi panchayat tested positive for Covid-19 in last 40 days. The panchayat has so far reported one fatality. During the same period, Boinda, Handapa, Luhamunda and Bileinali panchayats reported 276, 269, 82 and 70 cases and one, seven, two and one fatalities respectively. At the same time, panchayats like Kanteikolia, Jambunali and Kataranga registered 77, 88 and 81 cases, with no fatalities.
Boinda is known as one of the business hubs in Angul district. Small time businessmen and farmers from nearby villages come to this town every day. And they have now been blamed for being carriers of the deadly virus. They are alleged to be spreading virus in their respective villages.
Meanwhile, the panchayat administrations have imposed a seven-day shutdown at various villages of Nunukapashi, Boinda, Jambunali, Luhamunda, Handapa and Kanteikolia panchayats. In order to avoid community transmission in their villages, villagers of 22 villages with the support of their panchayat administrations have made the restrictions stricter. They have erected bamboo fences at the entry points, restricting entry of outsiders into the villages.
In view of the situation in rural areas, while the local administration is taking steps to create awareness among the villagers in rural villages, police administration is keeping an eye on violators. They have sealed many shops for violating Covid guidelines.
The panic-stricken villagers urged the administration to take stringent action against those who are endangering the lives of others by not following the guidelines.
“The cases are increasing in villages because infected persons are, instead of staying at home, roaming in markets. As of now, the poor villagers who can ill afford to go under home quarantine and pay hospital bill are in fear. The police should take stringent action against the Covid violators,” observed Amat Sahu, a resident of Kanteikolia panchayt.
Echoing the same, Anil Kumar Sahu of Handapa panchayat alleged the infected persons are not following the hoem quarantine rules properly. They with no mask on are moving around in villages. It should be checked.
When contacted, Dr Saroj Kumar Nanda of Boinda CHC said the situation in rural areas is deteriorating by the day because the infected patients are hardly taking medicines and following the guidelines.
“We are keeping a watchful eye on those who are roaming outside without any works. We will be stricter in coming days,” said Arun Kumar Panda, OIC, Boinda outpost.
When asked, Kishorenagar tehsildar Shantiswarup Mishra admitted that the number of Covid patients in Kishorenagar keeps increasing. “We are taking measures to contain the spread. We are conducting raids on shops where Covid guidelines are flouted, sealing them, creating awareness among the people on how the disease can be kept at bay and requesting infected persons not to step out of their houses during home isolation period,” he added.
PNN