Nanded returnee pilgrims pose fresh Covid-19 threat in Punjab

The pilgrims from Punjab, stranded in Nanded, reached their village and the Punjab government's health department tested them for corona on the spot. So far, 148 of the total pilgrims who have returned from Nanded have been infected with corona.

Nanded (Maharashtra):As many as 148 Sikh pilgrims, who returned from Nanded in Maharashtra have been tested Covid-19 positive in Punjab on Friday.

According to sources, nearly 3,700 Sikh pilgrims were stranded in Hazur Sahib Gurudwara in Nanded. A total of 3,500 pilgrims reached Punjab from Nanded during the past three days. The state government had sent 80 buses to bring them back to Punjab.

Government records show that 3,500 of them reached Punjab and have been put into quarantine at various places.

While the Punjab government has alleged that the pilgrims got affected with coronavirus in Nanded, but Nanded's Guardian Minister Ashok Chavan has denied the allegations regarding this.

Now the question arises that did the pilgrims get infected in Nanded? There is a lot of uncertainty amidst people in Nanded about what happened during the road trip.

Though the dispute between Nanded and Punjab is political, every resident of Nanded is concerned as the precautionary notices have also been issued at the administrative level.

After discussions between the district administration and the Punjab government to allow them to return to their hometowns, the centre allowed Punjab government to send buses for the stranded pilgrims, sources said.

Sources say hundreds of Sikh pilgrims who returned to their homes in Punjab is more than 200. These pilgrims returned to Punjab in private vehicles. After the pilgrims reached there at night, the Punjab government took care of them and made sure to check their health condition.

A report received on Friday morning found that 148 people tested positive following the swab test and were infected with Coronavirus. The Punjab government's health minister has also blamed Nanded for the increase in corona infection in Punjab.

Meanwhile, in the second phase, about 2,000 passengers travelling in Punjab government's luxury vehicles will be checked in the same manner. Wherever they reach today, their swabs will be checked by noting down their address.

"All arrangements were made at Shri Langar Sahib for all the devotees from Punjab who were stranded in Nanded due to the lockdown. The devotees were in Nanded for about a month and a half. During this, they were undergoing regular health check-ups. These pilgrims have been served by hundreds of devotees here. As many as 985 swabs have been taken in Nanded till Thursday. However, no devotees have contracted corona in Nanded," said Saint Baba Balwinder Singhji.

Gurudwaras in Nanded shut

The holy Takht Hazur Sahib Sachkhand Gurudwara and Gurudwara Langar Sahib in Nanded in Maharashtra were sealed on Friday after a batch of pilgrims who left from here to Punjab were found infected with the coronavirus during tests conducted in the northern state.

The area around Gurudwara and Abchal Nagar have been sealed as a preventive measure. The inspection is being carried out by a thermal machine in that area. Nanded, which earlier was a part of the green zone has become an orange zone.

What Minister says?

Speaking on the occasion, Guardian Minister Ashok Chavan said that some people have come to the country from China and some from Dubai. Who is to blame for this? Responding to this, Chavan has advised that this should not be politicized.

"About 3500 pilgrims from Punjab and Haryana were stranded in Nanded for darshan at Huzur Sahib Gurdwara. They were repatriated to Punjab with the permission of the state government and the Union Home Ministry. As per the initial reports, more than 100 devotees from Nanded to Punjab have contracted corona," Chavan said.

"However, this is not a matter of politics. The allegations were subject to cross-examination. Corona is currently under control in Nanded. Local suspects are also being tested at the moment," Chavan added.