Pune slum pockets contribute in majority of COVID-19 cases

Pune, Apr 14 () Like Dharavi in Mumbai, slumpockets located under Pune's Bhavani Peth and KasbaVishrambaug areas among others have emerged as coronavirushotspots accounting for majority of over 300 COVID-19 cases sofar, officials said on Tuesday.

Densely-populated slum pockets in Bhavani Peth andunder Kasba Vishrambaug and Dhole Patil ward offices havereported at least 158 COVID-19 cases, they said.

Out of the total 34 deaths in Pune district tillMonday, 11 fatalities were reported from Bhavani Peth areaalone, which includes some slum pockets, the civic body said.

On Tuesday, the COVID-19 death toll in Pune districtrose to 38 with four fresh fatalities.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner ShekharGaikwad told that Bhavani Peth and other adjoining 'peths'(old congested areas with narrow lanes) have been sealed offand turned into containment zones to check the spread ofcoronavirus.

"As a part of containment measures to stop the spreadof the virus, our health teams are conducting house surveys inthese localities. They have so far traced more than 300 peoplewith minor symptoms from various slums and houses located innarrow lanes. They are being tested for the infection," hesaid.

Gaikwad attributed the spike in COVID-19 cases anddeaths from localities like Bhavani Peth to factors likeconcentration of population in a small geography, congestedliving conditions, lack of medical knowledge among people, toname a few.

"We have been asking people living in the slums toshift to the institutional quarantine as it is difficult forthem to follow social distancing norms.

"Unfortunately, most of the people are not ready toleave comfort of their homes," he said.

Besides 78 COVID-19 cases being reported from BhavaniPeth area so far, areas under Kasba Vishrambaug Ward officehave reported 41 cases till Monday and those under Dhole Patilward office 39 cases.

Meanwhile, Health officials said that the four persons--three women and a man--who succumbed to COVID-19 disease inSassoon Hospital on Tuesday had underlying health conditions.

While the age of the women victims ranged from 42 to77 years, the male was 27-year-old, they said.

The deceased women were suffering from healthconditions such as hypertension, Asthma and kidney-relatedailments, while the man had alcohol-related liver ailment.

Dharavi in Mumbai, one of the biggest slum settlementin Asia, has reported 55 coronavirus positive cases so fartill Tuesday with seven deaths. SPKNSK NSK