Has administration failed to avoid, surge of COVID-19 cases in Bhatkal?
Bhatkal: After the first COVID-19 wave in the town, roots of which were traced to the gulf, people in Uttara Kannada’s Bhatkal were anticipating relaxation of lockdown in the town when they woke up to the news of another case of COVID-19 on Tuesday, May 5.
Ever since May 5, things have turned into a nightmare for the local residents as well as the local Taluk and District Administrations. It took only one patient to trigger the second wave of deadly Corona Virus in the town, as nearly 30 people tested positive for the virus on the subsequent two days till Sunday afternoon.
All the patients are reportedly the contacts of the 18-year old female patient who tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. On Friday, twelve people tested positive, while eight and seven people tested positive on Saturday and Sunday (till afternoon) respectively with reports of over one hundred people still awaited.
The 18-year old patient, who tested positive on Tuesday, was sister of a woman who had visited First Neuro Hospital in Mangaluru along with her five-year old kid and husband. The woman had reportedly transmitted the virus at the hospital during her visit. The woman has also tested positive for the virus now along with her five-year old kid, but it was her 18-year old sister who showed symptoms of the virus and tested positive for it. The Hospital in question has been in headlines over the last few days as one of the staffer at the hospital had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 23 followed by which, several patients who had undergone treatment there, were also infected by the virus.
Local social media groups in Bhatkal are abuzz with messages criticizing Taluk and District Administrations of both the Districts for delaying the process and for several lapses in the working process in the times of pandemic.
One of the biggest questions that are being asked is whether the administration failed to avoid the avoidable second wave of COVID-19 in Bhatkal?
Upon checking facts and records, it indeed looks like there were lapses by both Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada Administrations at their own ends and with a little improved responsiveness, the outbreak in the coastal town could’ve been avoided which has now put on risk lives of several senior citizens and a five-month old infant along with a five-month pregnant woman.
Who is to be blamed?
Lack of co-ordination between District Administrations of Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada:
When the first case of COVID-19 was recorded at First Neuro Hospital (FNH) the DK District Administration reportedly did not show urgency in sharing the details and information of the patients of other Districts who had visited the hospital to their respective District Administrations.
Another report claimed that it took the DK District Administration over a week’s time to dispatch the details of the patient while the hospital authorities claim they had handed over the details to the administration without any delays. Uttara Kannada District Administration reportedly received information of the 18-year old patient’s visit to the hospital on April 30.
Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner, Sindhu B Rupesh, however while speaking to Vartha Bharati over phone maintained that the details of the OPD patients as well as inpatients were shared with respective District Administrations and the hospital records of at least two months were shared with all the Districts.
Had the Dakshina Kannada District Administration dispatched the details of the patients earlier, and had shown a little urgency in the matter, the outbreak in Bhatkal could’ve been avoided by giving the administration enough time to trace and quarantine the patient.
Were lapses of Uttara Kannada Administration another cause for the outbreak?
While blaming the District Administration of Dakshina Kannada, the lapses of Uttara Kannada administration cannot be overlooked. The administration during the lockdown issued emergency medical passes to ease the sufferings of people who had to visit places like Kundapura, Udupi and Mangalore for medical references. But it erred by not tracking the patients and their travel, consultation history of hospitals they visited when they returned back to the town.
The administration remained clueless on which hospital the patients had visited to in Mangaluru. Even when the FNH cases came to the fore, the Administration could’ve summoned all those who had availed passes and had enquired about their travel history. But it didn’t. Results, over 150 people whose samples have been sent for testing (at the time of posting of this report) are threatened by the deadly virus while the locals believe that there will be a further surge in the number of cases in coming few days.
Situation on ground:
For now almost the entire Bhatkal town is under a complete seal-down with all the essential services including medical shops and hospitals closed by a panicked administration to cap the number of cases of COVID-19 in town.
People have went out to call it “Oppression” in minority community dominated localities, areas and have blamed the administration to be riding upon the alleged communal agenda of local MLA Sunil Naik and MP Ananth Kumar Hegde.
The fuel to the fire of this theory was added by a video allegedly made viral by Sunil Naik himself wherein he is seen strictly instructing police officials to take strictest course of action against anybody stepping out of their homes. He has in the video assured the police personnel of backing them on all of their action and decisions. The video was allegedly shot in Madeena Colony (a minority community dominated area) in town.
The video received a lot of flak and criticism on social media and local activists and youngsters called it “hooliganism” of the public representative.
Amidst all the confusion and panic among both administrations and residents of the town, one question has remained constant over the last few days, “has administration failed to avoid, avoidable surge of COVID-19 cases in Bhatkal?” and despite repeated attempts by Vartha Bharati to reach Uttara Kannada DC, Dr. Harish Kumar through calls and messages, the officer remained unavailable to answer the question.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
_vb_21.jpeg)