Kasaragod district in lock-down mode; cases against 10 traders for opening shops despite warning
Kasaragod: Kasaragod district, which has reported eight positive cases of Covid-19, was on Saturday put under total lock-down, while cases were registered against 10 traders who opened their shops despite warning.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had on Friday described as "worrisome" the situation in Kasaragod district where one of the affected persons had moved around "disregarding" the health department's directions and had met scores of people at public events, weddings and a football match.
Vijayan had said all government offices will remain closed for one week and the shops will open only from 11 am to 5 pm in the district, where two MLAs have gone into self- quarantine after coming into contact with one of the positive cases.
District Collector D Sajith Babu said instructions have been given to concerned police officials to register cases against those owners who opened their shops despite warning.
The district administration formed various teams led by the Collector himself and conducted inspections across Kasaragod.
"Those who were asked to remain in home quarantine must follow the directions of the health department. We have to implement such stern action to avoid further spread of the virus," Babu told the media.
He said more cases will be registered in case of more violations.
"We have already given instructions to register around 12 cases. The situation became worse after some persons failed to follow the health department's directions. We cannot allow the situation to get out of our control," the Collector said.
The district administration has also booked a person, under home quarantine, for roaming around and meeting people despite specific directions.
A senior official from the district said the case was registered after the neighbours complained that a person under home isolation, after returning from abroad, was roaming around and meeting people.
"We have booked that person for not following the directions," the official said.
In view of six new positive cases at Kasaragod, government offices in the district would remain closed for a week from Saturday, while all places of worship and clubs would be shut for two weeks, Vijayan had said.
"Places of worship would remain shut for two weeks and shops would remain open only from 11 am to 5 pm. We need to impose such restrictions in Kasaragod. Even two MLAs from the district are also under observation as they had come in contact with a positive case," Vijayan had said.
With the fresh 12 cases identified on Friday, the total number of infected persons has gone up to 37 in Kerala.
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AI Express flights cancelled for 2nd consecutive day; passengers unhappy
Thiruvananthapuram/Kozhikode (PTI): Air India Express passengers who were promised travel to various destinations from airports in Kerala were left stranded on Thursday as their flights were unexpectedly canceled for the second day in a row.
Travelers at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kannur airports faced disappointment when flights to Gulf nations were called off at the last minute for the second consecutive day.
This sudden cancellation has sparked frustration and caused inconvenience among passengers who relied on the airline's assurance for their travel plans.
"I was assured by Air India Express yesterday that I can travel to Qatar on Thursday. But they did not keep their promise. I was told at the last moment that my flight has been cancelled again for the second consecutive day," an aggrieved passenger at Karipur airport in Kozhikode told reporters.
Another passenger, who claimed his work visa would expire today, told a TV channel at Thiruvananthapuram airport that when his flight to the Gulf region was cancelled yesterday, he was given a ticket for today.
"When I arrived here (Thiruvananthapuram airport), the airline told me that the flight was cancelled. If I do not reach my place of work by tonight, my visa will expire and I will lose my job," he said.
Another passenger at the Thiruvananthapuram airport said that AI Express asked him to take a ticket on another airline, but he was unable to do so.
"Why can't they help us get tickets on another airline? Let them charge us for that," he said.
Air India Express has issued termination letters to around 25 cabin crew members who reported sick that led to the cancellation of more than 90 flights, airline sources said on Thursday.
The Tata Group-owned airline has also given an ultimatum to the remaining cabin crew members reporting sick to join back duty by 4 pm on Thursday or face termination, they added.
Air India Express has also cancelled at least 60 flights for Thursday due to the non-availability of cabin crew, the sources said, and added that mass leaves by a section of the cabin crew have caused immense inconvenience to passengers.
