From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: In an effort to stop the local transmission of Coronavirus in Karachi, authorities are mulling proposals to seal affected neighbourhoods in the port city’s District South, media reported.
Deputy Commissioner Irshad Sodhar said the Sindh government has been holding consultations with infectious disease experts on sealing affected localities and streets in the South district. He added areas falling within Clifton Cantonment Board have not been sealed yet.
He maintained the decision to seal the virus hotspots would be taken after consultations and added the Civil Line is the most affected area in the district. On April 12, eleven union councils in district East were completely locked down to contain further spread of the novel coronavirus.
Deputy Commissioner East Ahmed Ali issued a notification for sealing these union councils that included UC-6 Gillani Railways, UC-7 Dalmia, UC-8 Jamali Colony, UC-9 Gulshan-II, UC-10 Pehalwan Goth, UC-9 Jacob Line and UC – 10 Jamshaid Quarters.
These areas have been sealed in “larger public interest and to prevent widespread outbreak of novel corona virus,” according to the notification.
Earlier today, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah confirmed 93 new cases of coronavirus surfaced in the province during the past 24 hours.
In a video statement released from the CM House, he said that 569 new tests were conducted and 93 of them turned to out be positive. He said, “So far, 13,309 tests have been conducted for the COVID-19 and 1411 of them turned to be positive.”
Rangers and police in Karachi have blocked several roads in 11 union committees (UC) in the city’s East district by erecting temporary barriers and parking heavy vehicles, officials and witnesses said on Sunday.
Yesterday, the Sindh government had sealed off 11 UCs in East district to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the wake of increasing cases.
A notification issued by the deputy commissioner concerned said that entire areas falling within the limits of UC-6 Gilani Railway, UC-7 Dalmia, UC-8 Jamali Colony, UC-9 Gulshan II, UC-10 Pehalwan Goth, UC-12 Gulzar-i-Hijri, UC-13 Safoora Goth, UC-14 Faisal Cantonment, UC-2 Manzoor Colony, UC-9 Jacob Line and UC-10 Jamshed Quarters have been sealed forthwith as “record confirmed reports of individuals infected with Covid-19 residing in these areas”.
This decision was taken under the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act of 2014 and the DC-East believed that this step was in the “larger public interest and to prevent widespread outbreak of Covid-19”.Policemen stand guard after cordoning an area during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Karachi on April 12, 2020. Soon after the order was issued, police and Rangers cordoned off the areas to “ensure public safety”.
Residents of the sealed localities told Dawn that water tankers had been placed at entry and exit points to block movement. Medical stores and shops have been allowed to open, they said, but complained that there was a shortage of necessary items as police were not allowing supply trucks to enter. One resident of Kaneez Fatima Society, which is located in UC-12 Gulzar-i-Hijri, said that law enforcement officials had blocked Abul Hasan Ispahani Road by placing tankers near Paradise Bakery and were not allowing anyone to leave or enter. He said that one resident wanted to go to a nearby hospital but the police stopped him from leaving.
Roads leading to Super Highway and University Road have also been blocked. Tankers have been parked at Kamran Chowrangi and Jauhar Chowrangi to block the route leading to Professor Ghafoor Ahmed Road, a resident of Gulistan-i-Jauhar told media.
A road leading to Pehalwan Goth has also been blocked but residents were allowed to move within the area. A few streets have been sealed off in Bhittaiabad and Safoora Goth while Manzoor Colony and Jacob Lines are under a partial lockdown, according to residents.
Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shalwani denied reports that localities in Defence Housing Authority or Clifton are being sealed off. Senior Superintendent of Police (South) also rubbished the reports. The commissioner confirmed that Carrefour, Dolmen City Mall, had been ordered to close for not enforcing the prescribed preventive measures. As coronavirus lockdown in the Sindh province entered its 20th day on Sunday, the provincial authorities have apprehended over 3000 people over violation of lockdown amid pandemic.
According to details, during the entire period of lockdown, overall 3325 people had been arrested and 1169 cases registered against them.
Police on Sunday also sealed various parts in eleven union councils in Karachi’s District East to contain further spread of the novel coronavirus. As per details, the road leading to Pehalwan Goth from Johar Chowrangi has been sealed completely. Deputy Commissioner East Ahmed Al on Saturday issued directives for sealing these union councils that included UC-6 Gillani Railways, UC-7 Dalmia, UC-8 Jamali Colony, UC-9 Gulshan-II, UC-10 Pehalwan Goth, UC-9 Jacob Line and UC – 10 Jamshaid Quarters.
These areas have been sealed in “larger public interest and to prevent a widespread outbreak of novel coronavirus,” according to a notification put out by the deputy commissioner.
The Rangers and Karachi police have been instructed to cordon off these localities to ensure public safety. Speaking to reporters, the deputy commissioner said these union councils were sealed after the confirmation of more than 150 COVID-19 cases there. He said tests of people residing in these localities will be conducted.
