Hill lockdown lifts from today

TT, 9 August 2020, Siliguri: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) that had damped a two-week long lockdown across the hills has decided not extend it from Sunday.

Sources said the decision was taken after a slight drop in cases in the urban areas under the GTA, but the administration said it was keeping a close watch on the situation and would act accordingly.

Anil Thapa, chairperson of the board of administrators of the GTA, said: "We thank people of the GTA region who followed the lockdown strictly for two weeks. We are monitoing the situation. If required, there will be a lock-down in containment zones. However. there will be no further extension of the lock-down."

In a similar manner, the subdivisional administration of Dinhata in Cooch Behar district decided to de-notify the entire Dinhata civic area that had been declared a containment zone on July 16. "We will, however, keep marking areas as containment zones in the town if fresh Covid-19 cases are reported," an official said.

These decisions have come as a big relief for hill residents and those in Dinhata.

However, the number of Covid-19 cases keeps rising in north Bengal. particularly in Malda and Darjeeling districts. In each of the districts, the number of infections have inched closer to 3,000. In Darjeeling, 35 people have died so far of Covid.

Among other districts, more than 1,200 people in each district -- North (old South Dinajpur, CoochBehar and Jalpaiguri — have been infected by the novel coronavirus.

"The number of cases is comparatively less in Kalimpong and Alipurduar districts. However. in the recent weeks. cases of Covid infections have been reported even from the smaller hamlets and remote areas in the hills. We are keeping a close watch over the situation," said a source in the state health department.

Covid suicide

Ajit Mahato, 43, a contract worker who was tested Covid positive in South Dinajpur district, leapt to his death on Saturday morning from the roof of an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Bansihari.

The building is being used as a safe home. Mahato, who came from Bhaior village of Bansihari block, had been staying at the safe home for the past few days.

Police said a probe was on.