Coronavirus scare forces people in Leh to stay inddors
Roads, other public places present a deserted look
Neyaz Elahi
Leh: Kargil and Leh towns are presenting a ghost look since the outbreak of Coronavirus. 13 people have tested positive in the twin towns among which one hails from Kargil while rest are from Leh. Most of the persons infected by the lethal virus are from Chechot Gompa village of Leh. Chechot Gompa is a Muslim majority village though Buddhist too reside here.
Shops and businesses are shuttered both in Leh and Kargil. The congested streets have for the past two weeks been nearly empty as residents continue to resort to self quarantine at home. Some shops, unsure when they can reopen, have started selling off their stores of produce to residents stockpiling food.
“The last time we witnessed such kind of scary situation was in 1999, when Kargil war broke out. People then stayed inside underground bunkers and this time they prefer to spent time in their houses,” said Ahmed Sharah, a Kargil resident.
Across Ladakh, from towns to villages, lives have been put on hold as the newly created Union Territory is grappling with the expanding Coronovirus, whose death toll and infection rate show no signs of slowing.
Residents described a state of limbo, amid suffocating quarantine measures, uncertainty about work and school, dwindling supplies of fresh food and medicine, and increased anxiety about the real extent of the virus – and how much authorities are doing to contain it.
Scores of people in Chechot Gompa village that recently witnessed the death of one Ali Muhammad due to Coronavirus infection staged a protest on Saturday alleging that authorities are mixing corona infected people with others.
“Those who have recovered have been kept with those whose tests have been found positive. We think, authorities are not serious about the issue and they are the source of spreading this virus,” said a local, Muhammad Akbar.
“Our neighbors Ali Muhammad, Muhammad Hussain and Nazir Ahmed who tested negative, have been quarantined alongwith those who have tested positive. This must stop and authorities ought to show some seriousness,” he said.
Sajad Ahmed who was watching the protesters said that people can’t go out and they are too bored, so they start fighting.
“Everyone is idle. Internet is the only source of entertainment but people here use it to get latest about COVED-19,” he added.
Administrative Secretary, Rigzen Samphel addressed a press conference in which he informed that emergence of three more positive cases-two from Leh and one from Kargil. “All these three persons tested positive are the relatives of those who are already infected with Coronavirus,” he said. The brief press conference was attended by only four to five people who work for different media outlets.
In Kargil, people are virtually under house arrest. There is panic in Baroo, Poin, Sanko, Trespon and dozens of village and same is situation in Leh areas including Chickten, Shargole, Taisuru and other areas.
The impact of Coronavirus is not so high in Zanskar division. Padum town where majority of houses belong to Muslims have already left it and are staying in Kashmir. The Buddhists there are numb but hoping this lethal virus won’t surface here.
Ironically, people at Panikhar, Karshai, Suny and other villages are least bothered about the growing impact of Coronavirus.
“There is no influx of outsiders, so chances of this virus of spreading in Zanskar is minimal,” said a medico. (KNT)
KV News
