Red alert! BMC finds overt way of marking sealed spots in building

Building no. 84B seen sealed with red cloth in Tilak Nagar

In a unique way of indicating sealed sections of a building, the civic body used red-coloured cloth to seal the main gate and the elevator in building number 84B in Tilak Nagar. Over five positive COVID-19 cases were found in the building on Wednesday. It has been sealed for 14 days.

This is the first time that the BMC has used red cloth to mark sealed areas. Anyone found breaking quarantine rules in the building would face action, the BMC has warned. Only doctors, advocates and medical staff have been allowed to move about for their duties in the society.

In areas of Chembur and Tilak Nagar, the BMC is still struggling to enforce mask-wearing and social distancing. Building number 84B comes under the M ward of BMC. The building has 35 flats and 80 residents.

As per the civic body's rules, a building with five or more cases is sealed. In buildings that have less than five cases, only floors are sealed.

M Ward's Medical officer Bhupendra Patil told mid-day, "All cases are on different floors of the society, but the total number is more than five, because of which we sealed the main gate of the society. We sealed it with red cloth. Essential services like milk, vegetables and food will be arranged. This work will be done through the security guards of the society. In case of an emergency, the secretary of the society can contact us for permission."

Resident and social worker Pradeep Nair said, "We have never seen such type of sealing. We can't even use the main gate and lift from the ground floor. Our neighbouring society is arranging for vegetables, milk and groceries through the watchmen."