We are seeing return of Corona footprints, says Himachal CM

Shimla : Even after having dealt with Tablighi Jamaat returnees, who became prime reason entry COVID-19, Himachal Pradesh is, once again, seeing its footprints in two key districts of Kangra and Chamba.

The number of total Coronavirus positive cases in the state has risen to 35. Currently, there are 18 persons are in the hospitals.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said detection of two new cases, each in Kangra and Chamba districts, on Wednesday has alarmed the agencies, which believed that there will not be any further spread after having traced all Tablighi Jamaatis and traced their close contacts.

Investigations revealed that four persons, two of them working in a media organisation at Jalandhar in Punjab, had sneaked to the state giving a slip to the police, and have now been detected positive. Two of them were detected positive.

"We have registered two FIRs in the case because these persons acted highly irresponsibly and carried the virus to their families, and several other contactees. The area has now been sealed and mass sampling was being done to trace all persons, whom they came in touch", said Superintendent of Police Kangra Vimut Ranjan.

These four persons had taken a lift from a driver engage in carriage of vegetables to the state to reach their native places in Kangra and Chamba.

Chief Minister has, thus, made a fresh appeal to all those stranded at different places in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi or elsewhere not to take risk of putting their lives in danger to enter the state through illegal means.

"Please help us to contain the spread and make the state safe for your return. We will welcome you once the lockdown period is over" said Jai Ram Thakur.

But, opposition Congress has come down heavily against the government for not making arrangements to facilitate the return of all those Himachalis, who also include children studying in other states, or doing jobs.

" We are applying different yardsticks for helpless persons and own partymen. How come sitting MP from Mandi Ram Swaroop was allowed to breach the law, violate curfew and lockdown to travel to Jogindernagar from Delhi when entry points of the state are sealed. Why was he not detained at the entry point and taken to institutional quarantine? Asks Mukesh Agnihotri, Leader of Opposition.

The MP, later in the day, issued a quick clarification that he had taken due permissions from the Delhi police and also kept local authorities in Mandi district informed.

Agnihotri also raised serious questions on the handling of the coronavirus situation in the state wondering as to why the opposition MLAs have not been kept in the loop in measures taken, reliefs given to affected people and funds utilised for welfare the masses.