Shimla, Nov 20, 2020
As the Lahaul and Spiti district is emerging as one of the worst-hit districts in the Hilly state of Himachal in terms of population ratio, the administration has restricted the movement of tourists till Telling Nullah near the north portal of the Rohtang. The villages near the Rohtang Tunnel have also been turned into containment zones and tourists are not allowed to enter any Lahaul village.
According to reports reaching here, all residents, except one Bhushan Thakur from the Thorang village in Lahaul district have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Thorang Village along the Manali-Leh highway in Lahaul district of Himachal Pradesh has around 42 residents as most people have migrated to Kullu for the winter season. After the religious event took place, the villagers voluntarily decided to get tested. Of the 42 samples tested, 41 turned out to be positive for the deadly pathogen. The spread of the infection in adjoining Spiti villages have also been reported with 39 residents of the Rangrik village testing positive for the virus. In another instance, some 19 residents of a tiny Hurling village in Spiti also tested positive for the coronavirus
In Thorang village, Thakur is staying in a separate room and has been cooking his meals for the several days. He was with his family members until they got to know about the COVID-19 test results. However, he was strict about the protocols like sanitising hands, wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing in public areas, he was infection free. He has urged the people not to be complacent and take this disease lightly. His five family members were tested positive.
The outstretched spread of Coronavirus is linked to a religious event held a few days back in the village. The huge gathering of people is blamed for the community transmission of the coronavirus. The report further stated that the people in nearby villages are also fearing that they will also test positive for the virus.
The rising cases in Lahaul-Spiti has become a matter of concern for officials because over 860 people have been found positive so far in the district.
