Chitral town residents start ignoring corona precautions

CHITRAL: The district administration on Monday decided to call more police and levies personnel after residents ignored precautions against the coronavirus and started rushing in bazaars, commercial banks and other public places.

On Monday, usual rush of people was seen by ChitralToday correspondent in Ataligh Chowk, Bypass Road, Secretariat Road, Kluprisht as well as in utility stores.

The residents of Chitral were also seen totally ignoring social distancing and other precautions to avoid the coronavirus.

People were also seen making queues outside banks to pay utility bills or withdraw salaries and pensions.

Seeing the situation, Assistant Commissioner Chitral Abdul Wali Khan decided to call more police and levies personnel to ensure the lockdown. He said action would also be taken against those who opened shops other than those allowed by the administration.

On the other hand, despite ban on inter-district public transport and lockdown in other parts of the country, people of Chitral continued returning to their hometown on Monday.

As a result, all quarantine centres set up in hotels and educational institutions are full of the returnees and a number of people have been asked to self-isolate them in their homes.

It has also been learnt that people in the quarantine centres are not getting proper food on time and elderly people are facing more hardships in these centres.

On the other hand, despite repeated appeals by the local administration the Chitralis are coming to their homes by changing vehicles on the way and facing lots of troubles.

Because of this rush and panic, transporters are also fleecing the returnees by overcharging them.–Muhkam Uddin Ayuni