Abrar A. Matoo
SRINAGAR, May 11: Due to the disastrous increase in the covid-19 cases, the Kashmir administration has identified various containment zones where the covid-19 positive cases are relatively higher. In order to prevent the mixing, the administration has, in addition to suspending the non-essential activities, barricaded all the major entry points to these localities.
However, the residents of these localities are registering protest against these iron barricades and say that the method is counterproductive.
Citing an error in the method of barricading localities to curb the spread of Coronavirus, Mukhtar Khan, an eminent local photojournalist wrote, “Coronavirus is all over the world, but barricading we can see in Kashmir only. Do you think we can stop the virus by putting these roadblocks? if god forbid, any medical emergency arises in any barricaded area in such a locality, who will be responsible?”
The authorities say that besides preventing the spread of the virus, these barricades are symbolic; they send a message of danger and precaution to people — to both, those arriving from outside, and those who live within these containment zones.
While defending the results of these barricades around the containment zones, Dr. Syed Haneef Balkhi, Additional Development Commissioner, Srinagar, informed Kashmir Despatch that, “it’s prerequisite that both an entry point and an exit point is left open before barricading a locality that has been designated a containment zone.”
But the residents voice concern that these entries and exit points may not qualify for a proper way out if in case an emergency arises.
“The shortest way out to reach any hospital has been barricaded in our locality, with the result, in case of any emergency, we may have to take detours through lanes and by-lanes, which can waste valuable time. It is simple to understand that since our locality has been designated a Covid containment zone, the probability of emergencies is higher here than in any other locality,” advocate Mir Manzoor, from Lal Nagar, Chanapora told Kashmir Despatch.
While the administration and the residents may continue to argue over the usability of these iron barricades, some the residents feel suffocated because of them and say that they add to their fear and mental turmoil.
“These barricades make me feel imprisoned; claustrophobic. They are increasing the sense of anguish in the locality. Due to the nature of the current crisis, its important that people are not made more anxious than they already are,” Taniya Rashid, a Masters student from Bemina told Kashmir Despatch. “Our mental health has to be taken care of as much as our physical care. There is substantial research that the pandemic has deteriorated mental health, and our authorities have failed to realize this aspect of the situation.”
