Coronavirus: What Happens In A Red Zone?

10:12 pm April 9, 2020

SRINAGAR: Thursday witnessed 24 new patients testing positive for the Covid-19. Of the new patients, 21 confirmed at SKIMS Soura and three at Chest Disease Hospital labs. As the new cases continued to pour in, the authorities identify the new spots as the red zone. Now, Kashmir alone has around 64 red zones in which there is no permission for moving out on getting in unless permitted by authorities in dire requirements.

Anantnag is the last of the 10 Kashmir districts that joined the ‘league’ of red zones. Now all the districts have red zones. Kulgam entered the red zones on Wednesday.

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Kashmiri medical staff walks in a residential area which was declared as a red zone by the authorities in Srinagar, on 9 April 2020. The UT government has declared 45 areas as red zones in Jammu and Kashmir. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

Families and close contacts of the Covid-19 positive cases usually are moved to the quarantine centres. The entire area, however, remains under tight guard as the red zone. Areas surrounding the red zones are called buffer zones.

A member medical staff wearing protective suit marks the gate of a house after collecting information in a residential area which is declared as a red zone by the authorities in Srinagar on April 9, 2020. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

There are 12 red zones in the Ganderbal and Bandipora districts including the villages of Waskura, SK Bala, Parray Mohalla Hajin, Batagund Hajin and Chandergeer Hajin, Kunon, Gundikesar, Gundi Dachina, Madwan, Hakbara, Pethkot, Gund Jehangeer and Naidkhai.

It is red zone man: A health worker stops a trespasser in an area declared red zone on April 9, 2019, KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

In Shopian three zones were declared as red including Sedow, Ramnagri, Sindo Sharmal and Bemnipora.

Budgam has now four red zones including Wathoora, Kandajan, Charar-e-Shareef and Soibugh.

Residents in a locality declared red zone, watching with their faces behind masks on April 9, 2019. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur.

Baramulla also has three red zones including Sulinda, Tangmarg and Uri.

Tell from the only: A member of the health workers team collecting basic information about the family in a Srinagar locality that was declared red zone by the UT administration on April 9, 2020. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

Pulwama has seven red zones: Khaigam, Rajpora, Sangerwani, Abhama, Gudoora, Pinglena, Chandgam and Parigam.

An elderly person in a red zone watched the health workers roaming in the belt for collecting basic information on April 9, 2020. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

Kupwara has two red zone including the localities of ITI Handwara and Baghbela.

4 Kashmiri medical staffers collects information from a Kashmiri family in a residential area declared as a red zone by the authorities in Srinagar on 09 April 2020. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

The capital Srinagar city has 14 red zones including Ahmad Nagar, Lal Bazar, Hawal, Nishat, Khayam, Iddgah, Goripora, Chattabal, Hyderpora, Bemina, Jawahar Nagar, Natipora, Lasjan and Nowshera.

After collecting the basic information from an area declared red zone by the UT administration, the group of health workers on way to their station on April 9, 2020. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur

On Thursday, Kashmir’s Life Bilal Bahadur visited a red zone to record what happens around. He found the health workers moving from door to door to list the families and check if they have any issues related to health. They also advise the inhabitants to respect the restrictions because it is for their benefit.

Watch a brief video that Bilal recorded.