HP NEWS SERVICE
Tura, Jul 1: Panic gripped residents of Phulbari under West Garo Hills district after reports of five persons from nearby South Salmara testing positive for Covid-19.
Interestingly, the area where the five tested positive of the virus is Meghalaya land but has been run over by Assam.
Among those who have tested positive include a police constable, a pharmacist, a government servant among others.
Another interesting matter is that the police station also happens to be on Meghalaya land.
The patients have been taken to the Hatsingimari Covid hospital for further treatment as they are all residents of Assam.
Panicked residents of the Phulbari area shut their shops early this morning though normalcy resumed later.
A meeting was then held between police personnel, the Demdema Block Development Officer, P R Sangma and prominent residents on steps that are needed to be taken in view of the pandemic spread in neighbouring South Salmara.
“The area is vastly populated and there is a danger of community transmission. We are scared that the open borders will mean that the pandemic can spread quickly among our population. If that happens, we are in a complete fix,” said Francewell Ch Marak, who also attended the meeting.
Residents have sought a complete stop in the movement of people from Assam into the town so that there is no spread of Covid-19.
However, following the new Unlock-2 rules, states have been asked to allow movement of people and goods without restrictions.
“However temperature checks would be taken for all those who come to Meghalaya from those areas. A checkpoint for entry is also to be set up near Naga Bund,” added another resident, Michael A. Sangma.
Meanwhile the Anti Corruption and Human Development Organisation (ACHDO) has sought a stricter way of checking those who enter the State given the nature of the pandemic.
“We appeal to the administration to look at ways to censure movement along the porous border with Assam. The huge spurt in cases in Assam is alarming and we have to take every precaution to ensure the safety of our people,” said ACHDO president, Tarif Sarkar.
