"We have received a request from Cachar DC, but no decision on lockdown yet": Chief Secretary, Kumar Sanjay Krishna

Since today evening a rumour is spreading like wildfire in Cachar district claiming a lockdown has been imposed in the district from August 10, 2020. Few Guwahati based satellite channels also aired a piece of “Breaking News” claiming the same.

Speaking with us, Chief Secretary of Assam, Kumar Sanjay Krishna said, “We have received the request from Cachar DC today, but no decision on lockdown yet.”

The chief secretary added, “We have to take views of the health department. So, we will now send the request to the Health Department asking if we need to impose a lockdown or not. Once the decision is made, we will inform the DC. So far, no decision has been taken on lockdown in Cachar.”

The letter that went viral on Social Media today was signed by the deputy commissioner of Cachar who is also the chairperson of District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The DC wrote to the chief secretary of Assam forwarding a proposal to enforce lockdown in the district. The proposal, according to the letter, was made by “some market associations of Fatak Bazar”

The letter states that “A meeting was called on August 6, 2020, by Silchar MP Rajdeep Roy and was chaired by Minister Parimal Suklabaidya. The meeting was also attended by MLA Silchar, MLA Katigorah & MLA Borkhola, representative and Superintendent of Police, Cachar.”

It adds, “The honourable members desired for a lockdown in the district to stem the inflow of positive cases. They suggested that Saturday and Sunday dated 8 & 9, August be permitted for citizens to stock their homes & lockdown be announced from 10 to 13 August 2020 (4 days) with relief on 14 and 15 August and to continue from 16th.”

It is also mentioned in the letter that, Silchar Medical College which caters to entire Barak Valley is facing problems with bed shortage as they are treating symptomatic patients. SMCH Bed capacity currently is 270, occupied by 240 & ICU capacity is 14, occupied by 14.

The DC mentioned that some merchant associations of Silchar town are voluntarily asking for a lockdown of their business centres to contain the further spread of the virus. “I have the honour to state that in the last ten days the number of positive cases in Cachar District has seen a rapid increase and for the first time in Barak Valley total cases in the last ten days is around 985. The average number of cases per day is around 98 these days,” stated the letter signed by DC Jalli.