Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (KR)

Udupi, Apr 18: With an aim to declare as coronavirus-free district, Udupi deputy commissioner (DC) G Jagadeesha along with superintendent of police P Vishnuvardhana went on a sudden city rounds in the evening on Friday, April 17.

They started from the Kalsanka Junction and spent nearly an hour where both the official took self-interest and were engaged in examining each traveller. In many cases on commuters without proper documents or reasons, they have warned the riders, booked cases and even seized the vehicles.

With these stringent action taken by the police, they wanted to give a clear message to the citizens that it is a very crucial period and the junction stands very crucial as well as Udupi had been listed under the orange category due to the number of coronavirus cases. Therefore, unnecessary movement must be stopped until May 3.

Addressing to the media, the DC said that in Udupi people had taken the lockdown very seriously as in the initial days the police had behaved in a tough manner, in later days of the lockdown the citizens of Udupi have been supportive in all the efforts.

But in the recent days the people in Udupi seemed to have felt that Udupi was free from the virus while it is also sad to note that some people had self-declared the district to be virus free.

It is important to understand that only the central and the state government could announce such things. Until then, the citizens have to follow the guide lines issued by the central and state government which clearly states that the lockdown had been extended until May 3.

As the district is currently in the orange category, the citizens must remain alert. The DC said that along with the SP, they had decided come to the road to give the message to the citizens that the district is not yet free from the virus and the citizens are not safe yet and all precautions must be taken towards each one's safety.

"We have given the time to come out and purchase the essentials and only during the allotted time any purchasing have to be done. But in the recent times we have come across people roaming in the roads giving medical excuses," the commissioner said. "Hereby we request the people to purchase the medicines in the nearby medical shop itself," the DC added.

According to the recent rules or guide lines issued by the government only one person can go in a bike while only two in a car.

In a situation recently, it was a challenging task to save a pregnant lady who had come from Bhatkal with an intention to get a good treatment. The lady was immediately taken to KMC hospital Manipal and the doctors have assured that the lady is recovering and in three to four days she would be discharged. The doctors had shown the courage to take up complicated cases from other districts and the KMC Hospital in Manipal can be credited for the same, the commissioner said on how the department had been handling complicated situations.

The district had done the Covid test of all the primary and secondary contact with the positive patients and have succeeded to some extent. A special drive was also carried out. The medical staff had done tremendous job and the district can be credited to be the first in the state for following the Covid test protocol that is for one lac people 34 test were conducted and samples were sent. The government had asked to conduct maximum tests as possible, the commissioner said.

"We do not want anyone from outside the district without any medical emergency. And in case of any death in the family we are issuing an e-pass which is available from the ever tahsildar and would be issued at the earliest as possible," the commissioner said. At some places it is noticed that the rules are violated at the district borders and therefore some officers were appointed to look into it, the commissioner said indicating the strict measure adopted by the district police to check the borders.

"The district has very less external pressure for any entry into the district other than that from the local representative," the commissioner said.

Udupi district SP P Vishnuvarndhana said that since the lockdown the police have seized nearly 550 vehicles including both two and four wheeler. He also said the in the coming days the department would act more strictly if the rules are found to be violated which clearly states that only one passenger is allowed in a two wheeler while only two in a four wheeler. And citizens would be allowed outside their homes only due to medical reasons for which they could travel upto two to three km radius to the nearest medical.

The other locations the officers visited were Bannanje Circle, Ajjarkad Park, Karavali Junction, and Park at Kalmady, Maple Beach, Malpe Port and Malpe Bus stand. During this raid they have warned many who were found to be walking in the park or roads, cycling and so on. In some parks group of people were found to be jogging or gathered sitting.

Other officials present were ASP Kumar Chandra, DYSP Jai Shankar, traffic SI Abdul Khader, tahsiladar of Udupi Pradeep Kurdekar among others.