Too little, too late — Chandigarh Administration found wanting in Bapu Dham Colony

Sandeep Rana

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 10

What Panchkula did in the congested Rajiv Colony and Kharak Mangoli and Mohali in Jagatpura and Jawaharpur, Chandigarh failed to do in Bapu Dham Colony (BDC), which accounts for nearly 63 per cent of the total Covid cases reported from the city.

The lowest sampling in the tricity, no random sampling, not shifting family and close contacts of patients to quarantine centres and lack of early intervention are the factors in which the UT lags behind its neighbours.

Chandigarh has so far reported 174 cases, the maximum in the tricity, but tested on 2,142 persons, the minimum in the tricity. On the other hand, Panchkula, which saw the lowest number of cases (20) in the tricity, has tested the maximum samples (2,600). Also, Mohali where 98 cases have been reported has tested 2,400 samples till now.

Waking up from its deep slumber, the UT Administration started sampling rigorously only after April 24 when Bapu Dham reported its first Covid case.

The UT has an estimated population of 14 lakh, Mohali 10 lakh and Panchkula 6.6 lakh.

Notably, the first Covid in the tricity was reported from Chandigarh on March 18.

*No random testing in UT

Taking the lead, Panchkula has conducted as many as 1,000 random tests. It was started 15 days ago. Four positive cases were detected during the random testing in vulnerable areas. Though Mohali is not going in for random sampling in the whole district, it is doing so in affected areas and flu corners. The Chandigarh authorities, however, “do not feel the need for random sampling”.

*Violations and non-shifting of patients to quarantine centres

The first Covid case was reported from Bapu Dham Colony on April 24. In a fortnight, the number of cases in the colony has reached 110. The phenomenal rise in the count points towards no early, strict intervention of the UT authorities. Even as the area has been sealed, people here kept roaming around, throwing marriage anniversary party and smoking hookah in groups.

It was only after more cases started pouring in from the densely populated area that the Administration got CRPF personnel deployed at the colony and even removed the Bapu Dham Colony chowki incharge. There used to be no proper police patrolling.

Apparently, the Administration did not seriously ponder over the fact that about 52,000 people reside in some 2,500 small houses in the colony and home-quarantining was impossible there. About 15-20 family members reside in a single house, a three-storey building constructed on an area of 25-30 yards.

Though the UT Administration earlier shifted out about 60 persons from the colony to a quarantine centre in Sector 47, they were from the area outside the containment zone. The family or the primary contacts of the positive patients were not moved to quarantine centres unlike what the authorities did in Panchkula and Mohali.

Though the MC contact tracing and quarantine team has quarantined as many as 5,487 persons, the effort does not seem to be complemented by the health or the UT Administration level.

On the contrary, when a positive case was reported in Rajiv Colony, which is congested too, the Panchkula authorities shifted the old, diabetic and their family members to a quarantine centre. This was done to stop the community spread in the locality. Similar thing was done in Kharak Mangoli.

In Mohali too, when cases were reported from Jagatpura and Jawarhpur, all those who came in direct touch with the patients were shifted to quarantine centres and later tested for Covid.

What tricity authorities say:

We are working as per the guidelines. There is no need and authorisation for random sampling. As far as quarantining is concerned, we are testing people in affected areas and then separating those found negative and positive for Covid. Arun Gupta, Health Secretary, Chandigarh

There is no sure shot formula for this. Apart from early surveillance, we have been doing active surveillance. We are doing random testing, which helped us detect four cases in the past few days. In congested zones where quarantining is not possible in houses, we shifted people out to quarantine centres. Dr Jasjeet Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Panchkula

We are following all protocols of the government and doing maximum sampling. We are also doing random testing in affected areas and flu corners. To contain the spread in congested areas like Jagatpura and Jawaharpur, we shifted people to quarantine centre. Dr Manjit Singh, Civil Surgeon, Mohali