Experience of my friend during the 'SEAL DOWN' of their neighbourhood!

Preamble:

Bengaluru, like other parts of India, has been witnessing lockdown since 25^th March 2020. It all started due to the influx of overseas passengers flowing into the city and some transiting through.

It was tough for the Health and Welfare Authorities to determine the impact of this infection, as in most cases, the patients were asymptomatic. Adding to this confusion was the fact that a good many passengers who didn’t show any symptomatic signs were infected during the 14-day gestation period, and by then, they had come in contact with scores of others.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah…. You all know the story of its spread now, and some of us have become armchair experts in dispensing safety precautions and solutions.

However, what I am narrating below is my friend’s first-hand experience that is continuing as I write this. How their day-to-day life has changed completely as three streets in the area are ‘Sealed Down’ and my friend’s house is located in one of those 3 streets that have been impacted.

As you scroll down this sentence, it is all my friend’s experience, mostly in my friend’s own words, with a bit of tweaking to give my touch, only where needed.

19^th April 2020

After almost 26 days of lockdown, we saw a white line being drawn on both ends of the street. We initially thought it was being done just to mark the hotspot zone, as we knew our area was a hotspot with one family infected with COVID-19.

In the evening we saw a Hoysala van (Police Patrol Vehicle) with a team of people comprising three policemen, personnel from BBMP, personnel from our local Corporator’s office and volunteers, announcing over the mic that our area has been sealed down and that we cannot go out nor anyone come inside till further notification.

It was like a jolt to us. Many had so many doubts; whether we can go out with a pass, what can be done for veggies, groceries, milk, medicines, dogs for a walk, etc., etc. Police did reply to everyone’s queries patiently. Volunteers collected the phone number of one person from each household.

Soon, they had put tall metal sheets across, on one end of the road, preventing us from going out or talking to anyone on the other side of this fence. Movable metal barricades were also put up on the other end, where there was a police outpost set up as entry/exit for service personnel and also for us to interact with police and volunteers. CCTV cameras were installed to keep a watch on the movement of the residents. BBMP/Police team also created a WhatsApp group comprising of the residents, from our phone numbers collected already. 

This group was named ‘CONTAINMENT ZONE XXX’

20^th April 2020

They listed phone numbers of the grocery shop, veggies & fruit shop with whom we can place our requirement, and shopkeepers were also given strict instructions to supply us promptly, irrespective of the quantity. They were to come to the end of the road and call us to collect the delivery. If the list of required items was long, they were then allowed to come inside the cordoned zone, keep the groceries in front of the gate, and leave. Of course, only digital payments were being made for the safety of everyone.

Unfortunately, the very next day of the seal down there was the death of an old lady, raising doubts in everyone's mind as to the cause. We heaved a sigh of relief when it was found that she was very healthy till the last minute and died due to cardiac arrest. BBMP team helped them a lot, for which the team deserved praises not just from that household, but from all of us in the Sealed Down area.

The above is pretty much the same activity, day in and day out.

In addition:

Every alternate day, BBMP personnel are spraying disinfectant.

One of the team members visits every household to check if we are receiving all our supplies correctly.  One day, we had no power supply, and when we complained, it was immediately resolved (this would not happen on normal days). Another person had problems with sewage, which was also resolved in no time. These types of complaints were not addressed in such a short time during normal days.

Of course, some people did have issues, like they could not take dogs for a long walk, and they were becoming restless. Another had a sick dog and wanted to go out in their car, which led to a big fight between the volunteers and the dog owner. The police team had to intervene and resolve the issue. After 3 days, most of us got used to the seal-down situation.

Routine:

First hour of the morning, there is some activity; like people taking their dog for a walk, only one milkman is allowed to deliver milk sachets to all the households, one paperboy is allowed in, and also the garbage collector. They are under strict instructions not to stay for an unreasonably long time, nor chat with the residents, but to complete their tasks and duties hastily and retreat.

After the first hour and during the course of the day, not a single person is seen outdoors. As the evening approaches, I see most of the residents on their terraces doing Yoga, some walking, kids playing. It is fun as we can see some activity, despite being sealed down.

There were issues like: kids playing without masks, disinfection process carried on without notice, non-availability of particular staple items in the notified shops. Minor issues, but these were settled amicably in the next day or two.

These are extraordinary times that call for maturity and patience in handling various skirmishes, calmly. People realised the situation within a short time and started to co-operate with the authorities and the volunteers. Complaints dwindled as the days progressed.

Of the 200-plus people in our containment zone, it is but natural for people to feel grumpy for no rhyme or reason, revolt against the system of seal-down, etc. But the way in which these apprehensions were addressed by the COVID-19 Help Group is commendable. Our group of residents is also thinking of honouring these selfless warriors who are standing by, serving us 24/7, thereby ensuring our safety.

Somehow, we must collect the names of all these volunteers, police personnel, and other personnel who are helping us get through these difficult phases during the SEAL-DOWN.

My Two Cents:

If we have not experienced the SEAL-DOWN, let’s not (for the heck of it) sympathetically say, ‘Yeah, we understand how you feel, blah, blah…..etc.’ No. We can’t understand how it feels unless we have experienced confinement.

Please be cordial to the volunteers and other service personnel. They are there to serve you and to keep you safe, and have no other ulterior motives.

We are at war here, and I am sure we can all beat the enemy in this war, only if we act maturely, taking all necessary precautions.

For reasons to protect the area and people resident here, I am neither mentioning names nor posting any pictures of the location.