26,000 people in 24 Punjab villages quarantined at home

New Delhi : Around 26,000 people from 24 villages in Punjab have been home quarantined after the authorities learned that out of the total of 38 positive cases so far in Punjab, 28 are directly linked to one man 70-year-old Baldev Singh, the only patient to die of COVID-19 in the state.

Baldev Singh of Pathlawa village of Nawanshahr district, who was granthi (preacher) of the village gurdwara had a travel history of Germany and Italy for religious work. Two men had also gone with him from the nearby villages.

All three men returned to India on March 7; after 10 days Singh died at a hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus on March 18.

The authorities announced that 14 members of his family have been tested positive. The families members of the other two men who travelled with Singh have also tested positive. Thus, 28 cases out 38 are directly linked to them.

The three men were advised to isolate themselves, but they didn't follow the instructions and roamed freely in the villages. Singh even attended the Hola Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib from March 10 to 12 which was attended by about 20 lakh pilgrims this year. He also visited people’s homes to offer sermons.

In all, 18 villages in Nawanshahr district and six villages Hoshiarpur district have been sealed.

"Now the authorities are making announcements across these villages asking people to tell about those people who have contacted these people. We fear the numbers could be in several hundred," an official said.

Deputy Commissioner of Nawanshahr  Nagar Vinay Bublani said: "We sealed the villages one by one and for supply essential commodities, water and electricity supply we are following the protocols. The NRIs residing in these villages have also been quarantined. The teams of health department along with other staff are visiting them everyday to check their health conditions."