Villagers Protest Against Returnees Skipping Quarantine In Odisha’s Balasore

Balasore: Tension erupted at Pihanagadia village in the district late on Friday night after a couple reportedly returned to the village from Surat without staying in a quarantine centre.

Sources said the couple belonging to Pihanagadia village under Khaira block returned from Surat on Friday. Instead of staying at the government quarantine centre, they went home straight. What is more, they also tried to contact their neighbours. This caused a lot of resentment among the locals as the health status of the couple was not examined.

They alleged that even the local sarpanch was not aware of the arrival of the returnees. Angry over this, the villagers staged a protest late on Friday night.

On being informed, the police reached the spot and tried to pacify the villagers.

Migrant labourers returning from other states allegedly skip safety and quarantine guidelines in various parts of Odisha. Such violations fuel fear of community infection, while migrant labourers escape the administration’s scanner, a report said.