Disinfection tunnel in Tamil Nadu sanitises as you walk through it. Watch

The tunnel was inaugurated by Tiruppur District Collector K. Vijayakarthikeyan.

Highlights

Disinfection tunnel is installed in a district in Tamil Nadu

It’s set outside a market

People have to walk through it for three to five seconds

In a move that is quite unusual and definitely much-needed, a district in Tamil Nadu has installed a very different form of precautionary measure against COVID-19 – a disinfection tunnel. It’s a small tunnel-like structure set outside Thennampalayam market in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. As the name suggests, it disinfects people as they walk through it for three to five seconds.

The tunnel was inaugurated by Tiruppur District Collector K. Vijayakarthikeyan. He also shared a video on Twitter of people passing through the tunnel and wrote that the temporary passageway is “first of its kind” in India. Vijayakarthikeyan further added, people entering the market need to wash their hands and then take the walk.

Since being shared a day ago, the video has garnered over 1.2 lakh views – and counting. It has also received tons of appreciative comments.

“Nice innovation, Sir,” wrote a Twitter user. “Brilliant and Very Innovative idea Sir,” commented another. “Wow. Kudos,” wrote a third.

There are two sets of three nozzles inside the tunnel which spray 1% sodium hypochlorite solution on people as they walk, reports The Hindu. “Upon contact [on surfaces], it is efficient enough to kill the virus,” Vijayakarthikeyan told the media house while explaining its working. However, he also added that this is a supplement to precautionary measure such as regular hand wash.