Residents of red zones demand chicken biryani to hot samosas

New Delhi: Delhi district officials deployed in COVID-19 containment zones and quarantine centres say a number of residents have flooded them with odd demands, like chicken biryani, mutton, pizza, sweets and hot samosas, keeping them on their toes during the lockdown.

In a containment zone, people are not allowed to step out of their houses and government ensures delivery of essential items at their doorstep. Once an area is declared a containment zone, administration and police officials create a WhatsApp group where people place requests for essential items and authorities ensure their delivery at the doorstep.

Requesting anonymity, an official deployed at the government-run quarantine facility in Outer Delhi's Narela said that several residents there have asked officials to provide them chicken biryani and mutton.

In South Delhi, which has nine containment zones, some people demanded pizza and hot samosa, another official said.

The officials said in some containment zones in East, Central and Central Delhi, there received demands for sweets. "We don't fulfill frivolous demands. At a time when an area is sealed and declared containment zone in such a crisis, our duty is to ensure delivery of only essential items like vegetables, water and milk. We have told our field officials to ignore unusual demands," a senior official said.

As the number of containment zones increase issues have been raised by residents who feel isolated and anxious. However, many feel the decision was necessary. "My sister called me as she is living in the containment zone and told me that she is fine," said a resident who lives near Bengali Colony.

Meanwhile, regular tests are being conducted by the officials. "Everyday a group of doctors come and check us for the pandemic," said a resident of Janak Puri. However, the anxiety of isolation has left many confused. "It was different being stuck at home, but this is different. We are not even allowed to move around inside the colony," said a resident of a containment zone in Mayur Vihar.

As the testing has increased, the number of cases is coming out in bulk. In the posh locality of Civil Lines Delhi police have sealed the Oberoi apartments. Around eight people have been found Coronavirus positive from the same family. Police have put barricades outside the society. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's house and residence of ministers are in the area of 1.5 km from the spot.

So far about 1,900 Coronavirus cases have been reported in Delhi with 43 deaths. While 207 people have recovered, 1,643 cases are active as on Sunday morning. About 80 containment zones have been formed across the city after cases were found in

localities. Amid the current situation of increasing cases, the Delhi government has decided to not relax the lockdown from Monday, as directed by the Centre.