Locals inconvenienced as Zirakpur's Dhakoli is declared containment zone

Gaurav Kanthwal 

Tribune News Service 

Zirakpur, April 13

Chaos reigned at K-Area lightpoints and other entry points to Dhakoli on Tuesday after police barred public entry in and out of the area.

Locals were taken unawares as the Mohali administration orders of Dhakoli being declared a containment zone came on Monday night.

Some of the Baltana residents said they were unaware of the orders and police are not allowing them to go for their work in and around Dhakoli.

A teacher in a private school, who commutes from Dhakoli to Gazipur, said, ''There was no restriction around 7.30 am but I am not sure if the police will allow me to return home in the evening.''

Zirakpur DSP Amroj Singh said, ''No movement will be allowed in the area according to the administration's order. The public was informed well in time.'' 

Dera Bassi SDM Kuldeep Bawa said, ''We have allowed the commuters till noon but after that restrictions will be imposed. Those who have already left for offices may return home by showing their residence proof (Aaadhar card) to police. I have briefed the police about it. But from Wednesday no movement of people will be allowed.''

Dhakoli SMO, vaccination staff member, 2 others test Covid positive 

Dhakoli Senior Medical Officer Pommy Chatrath, a Lady Health Visitor (LHV) involved in covid vaccination, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), and a staff member of Sub-Divisional Hospital, Dhakoli, have tested Covid positive in the last one week. 

The Mohali administration declared Dhakoli a containment zone on April 12. With 850 cases in the past one week, the Dhakoli area of Zirakpur in Mohali district has become a Covid hotspot. Around 1,100 Covid cases have surfaced from the Dhakoli area since April 1.

Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan said Dhakoli had been converted into a containment zone in view of the high number of cases concentrated in the area for the past four days. Though no curfew had been imposed, people would not be allowed to move out till further orders.