Residents in fear as COVID stalks Periyar Nagar street

All went fine in Chandrasekaran Street till Friday. But when the residents of the street woke

up on Saturday they were in for a rude shock as the street was sealed and all the crossroads leading to Chandrasekaran Street were blocked. When residents inquired, the Corporation staff informed that an 82-year-old woman and her 63-year-old son had tested positive for corona.

Once the news reached every family, there were chitchats among the residents about the family. Rajeswari, a retired accountant and a resident of the street, said the infected family members were natives of Kerala and had returned from their native place just before the lockdown was announced.

“Initially, they had a fever and were on self-medication but after testing it was confirmed that they are infected with coronavirus,” said Rajeswari.

Once the victims were tested positive, the Corporation sealed the house and the neighbours were asked not to come out of their houses. For the initial two days, on Saturday and Sunday, there were police barricades to prevent entry and exit of vehicles, but from Monday, high steel railings were erected in both ends of the street, restricting the movement of the vehicles completely.

The lone shop in the street was also closed, making life further difficult for people as they have to gain access to the main road to fetch essential items.

There is no option for buying food or groceries online as the delivery boys are not allowed inside. Also, residents who have run out of cooking gas do not have an option to get another cylinder or hire a vehicle in case of an emergency.

At a time when residents were in a tense state following the 21-day lockdown, the street turning into a COVID-19 hotspot has made senior citizens panicking even further and made them speak ill of the victims.

“The family had not informed anyone about their travel to Kerala. After they tested positive, the remaining members of the family including the grandchildren vanished from the street and police are in search of them,” said another senior citizen of the street, on request of anonymity.

Residents of the street are panicking for another reason too. The maid who worked in the house of the corona infected duo had also worked in a couple of other houses before the lockdown. The houses where the maid worked are also in a state of nervousness.

Though the maid was sent immediately for tests and she tested negative, the residents are frozen in the fear of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the corporation staff are spraying sanitisers twice a day in every house and are collecting the garbage from every house in the street making people stay in their houses. However, the residents of the street are worried about the number of days the street would remain under lock and key even after the nationwide lockdown ends.