Chhattisgarh:9-day-long lockdown in Durg district from April 6

Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel gave district collectors a free hand to impose lockdown in their respective jurisdictions after assessing the Covid-19 situation locally.

Published on: Apr 2, 2021, 13:34:02 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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A nine-day-long lockdown has been announced in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district from April 6 to April 14, in view of rising Covid-19 cases, officials said on Friday. Raipur and Durg districts are the state’s worst affected in the second wave of the disease and account for 1,327 and 996 new cases reported on Thursday respectively. Raipur has so far recorded 66,999 cases, including 914 deaths, while Durg’s caseload has increased to 40,068, including 754 deaths, officials said.

Jaipur, India – April 24, 2020: Police personnel on guard during lockdown in the Ramganj containment zone, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, on Friday April 24, 2020. (Photo by Himanshu Vyas / Hindustan Times)

Durg collector SN Bhure said it was necessary to break the chain of transmission by imposing lockdown and sought public support for the move. Officials said more districts could announce lockdown in the next couple of days.

On Thursday, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel gave district collectors a free hand to impose lockdown in their respective jurisdictions after assessing the Covid-19 situation locally. The state on Thursday reported 4,617 coronavirus cases, the highest single-day spike since the outbreak. The number of active cases in Chhattisgarh has reached 28,987.

The government has also restricted secretariat and directorate office staff strength to 50% in order to contain the spread in the second wave.

“Several employees of Mantralaya (secretariat) and offices of the Heads of Departments (HoDs) have contracted Covid-19 infection. In view of this, these offices will function at 50% employee strength,” stated an order issued by DD Singh, secretary of the General Administration department.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More