Highest single-day SMC Covid Count at 490- 10 die- Traders' protest

SNS, SILIGURI, 13 MAY 21 : The Siliguri Municipal Corporation recorded its highest single day count of Covid-19 cases. The civic body area, including the 14 wards that fall in Jalpaiguri district, counted 490 cases today.

Darjeeling district recorded 612 cases in total, sources said. A total of 134 cases were detected in Matigara,41 in Naxalbari, 32 in Phansidewa, 29 in Kharibari, 24 in Sukna, 13 cases each in Darjeeling Municipality and Mirik, 12 in Bijanbari, 10 in Kurseong Municipality, seven in Sukhia Pokhari and six cases in Takdah.

Meanwhile, 150 Covid patients were discharged after recovery from different government facilities in the past 24 hours, sources said.

11 Covid patients die

Eleven persons, who had tested positive for Covid-19, died in Siliguri in the past 24 hours, sources said. According to the sources, 10 persons undergoing treatment at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital died there, while another person died at a private hospital.

Traders' protest

Traders and workers at the Siliguri Regulated Market launched a protest after police went there, following information that they were working even after 10 am, the time limit set for shops to open as part of the partial lockdown in the state. The traders demanded revision of the business hours. The market is the largest fish, vegetable and fruit market in north Bengal.

'We have urged the administration to revise the business hours. At our market, business commences from around 10 am as it takes time to unload the products that come from different states in trucks. Our demand is that the state government let the markets open from 7 am to 2 pm," a trader said.