Seven villages have been declared as red zones in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district amid nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Invoking prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, Disaster Management Act and The Epidemic Disease Act, District Magistrate Pulwama said there would be no inward and outward movement of any person from the villages declared red zones and the people would stay at their homes to ensure complete lockdown. In this regard, the District Magistrate on Sunday issued the order according to which, Khaigam, Sangerwani, Abhama villages of tehsil Rajpora and Gudoora, Chandgam, Pinglena and Parigam of tehsil Pulwama fall in the red zone category while adjoining villages of these tehsils have been declared buffer zones, for the of safety and well-being of general public. According to an order issued by the DM, a person hailing from the district who attended a religious congregation at Gudura and tested positive for Covid-19 travelled to several villages including his native village Khaigam. The order further said that there would be no vehicular movement on the Pulwama-Chakoora, Newa-Parigam and Pulwama-Keller road. The district officials said, “The area has become more vulnerable as far as further transmission of the Covid-19 virus is concerned. It is necessary to break further transmission of the disease in the area and it becomes imperative to take stringent precautionary measures like declaring concerned villages as red zones and other villages of tehsil Pulwama and tehsil Rajpora as a buffer zone.” The DM directed officials to ensure supply of essential commodities as per laid down protocols in the villages covering both local residents and outside labourers and warned of stern action against anyone who tries to violate orders. Five people tested positive for Covid-19 in Kashmir on Sunday, taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to 38. Of the five cases, two each were reported from Srinagar and Budgam districts, while another from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
