This story is from July 22, 2020

Kolkata: Mohun Bagan Lane, Hazar Basti slums lead fight against virus

Mohun Bagan Lane near Shyambazar and the Hazar Basti near Bagbazar Women’s College might be 1.5km apart, but the success of KMC and Kolkata Police in containing Covid cases in these two areas have already made them the role models for this month.
Kolkata: Mohun Bagan Lane, Hazar Basti slums lead fight against virus
Hazar Basti near Bagbazar Women’s College.
KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan Lane near Shyambazar and the Hazar Basti near Bagbazar Women’s College might be 1.5km apart, but the success of KMC and Kolkata Police in containing Covid cases in these two areas have already made them the role models for this month.
Only 174 cases have been reported from the slums in Kolkata since the last week of June. The city has reported over 2,600 cases from apartments and standalone buildings during this period.
It was in June that both areas reported multiple cases within a span of a few hours.
But Hazar Basti, which reported 16 cases, saw a timely KMC intervention. “The first point was to ensure that each of these 16 patients’ residences — located barely a few inches from each other — were barricaded. Disinfection was carried out each day and even mosquito-larvae destroying spray was used. Borough I KMC workers, most of whom had prior experience of working at Belgachhia’s slum, began door-to-door campaigning. Till now, we do not have another fresh case at Hazar Basti. At Mohun Bagan Lane and around it, cases dropped significantly as well. The macro approach from KMC — using thermal scanners and oximeters — paid off yet again,” said an IPS officer from the north division.
According to Borough I coordinator Tarun Saha, KMC officials even sprayed disinfectants inside all houses that suspected to have contact carriers. “We made them realize the importance of wearing masks at all times. The entire area around Bagbazar Street, Udbodhan Lane, Kirti Mitra Lane and Mohun Bagan Row were brought under intense surveillance,” he said.
The dangers though are far from over. When TOI visited both spots, several people were found sitting outside their residences. “The danger lies in the fact that these neighbourhoods are literally next to each other. We need to regulate shop timings and markets to ensure these blocks do not see another outbreak,” said a senior police officer from Lalbazar.
Though it is not a containment zone, police and KMC will continue to mount surveillance in the area for the next two months. In addition, police will ask everyone to continue social distancing. Local residents themselves have approached IPS officers in charge of this zone and appealed that movement restriction is partially revoked instead of opening up the area all at once.
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