House of Khairatabad man-Telangana’s 1st COVID death-sealed; family worried fake news
By Coreena Suares Published on 12 April 2020 4:39 AM GMT
Hyderabad: The entrance and exit of the lane leading to a un-painted three-storey building in Khairatabad's CIB colony, has been sealed off. The house is of the first COVID-19 patient who succumbed to infection on March 28th, 2020. The medical reports of the remaining family revealed the decease's wife tested corona positive and continues to be under treatment at Gandhi Hospital. While five others from the family have been discharged.
On April 10th, the Hyderabad's central zone police and GHMC authorities sealed off two independent houses and two apartments.The police have set up an 8-feet-tall barricade with a No Entry sign board at the building. No one is allowed to venture outside.Besides this particular lane, the ever bustling Khairatabad, located in the heart of Hyderabad city, has been cordoned off.
But, even as the house of the 74-year-old man from Khairtabad- who was recorded as Telangana’s first COVID-19 death- has been sealed by the authorities, his family is not at peace.
Rumours about the death of his wife has been doing the rounds in the neighbourhood, which has been a cause of worry for the family who have already lost their dear one. Rumours haunted them so such an extent, that it forced the family to file an oral complaint with Saifabad police officials.
A neighbour ( name withheld) told this correspondent, " The family is very upset on hearing rumours on her death. The children have been discharged, but the wife's condition is under observation.” While the entire family of the COVID- patient has been put under quarantine, no other cases have been detected from Khairatabad, barring the first COVID- death.
Misinformation was spreading at such speed that Khairatabad Corporator Ms. Vijaya Reddy had to visit and assured the family that such rumours will be dealt seriously and action will be taken. ' It is turning very difficult to curtail misinformation, certain media outlets without confirming are publishing news about deaths. I appeal to them to refrain from such acts'.
Meanwhile, 8 feet tall barricades have been set up at Railway line, Imax en route and two more exit and entrance of Khairatabad. The areas does not fall under the 12 Containment clusters demarcated by the GHMC following the high number of cases detected from these zones. Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Rammohan added, " I visited the family once, the day after the man died. The other tenants in the house have been sent for quarantine. The family was assured there would get all the support needed'.
Also, GHMC and Health officials are conducting door-to-door survey at CIB colony, Chaman Basthi, Area around Sensation Cinema theatre. The 74-year-old man, who passed away due to COVID-19 had travelled to Delhi to attend a religious gathering, and had returned to Hyderabad on March 17. Three days later, on March 28, he was rushed to Global Hospital in Saifabad, after he complained of high fever with respiratory illness. He was later taken to Gandhi Hospital due to COVID-19 symptoms, after which he was declared positive for novel coronavirus. This is the stand alone case from CIB colony- Khairatabad.
