Bidar: Following surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, the North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) has suspended bus services to the neighbouring State.
The district administration had, earlier, directed the officials to allow travellers from Maharashtra into the district only after they produced RT-PCR negative reports at the checkpoints set up in Hirolli and Khajuri of Aland taluk and Mashala and Baloorgi villages of Afzalpur taluk.
NEKRTC Chief Traffic Manager D Kotrappa said that about 60 buses operated daily to Maharashtra and a total of 12 buses from the neighbouring State arrived in various parts of the district. Following the spurt in Covid positive cases, the bus services to Maharashtra have been suspended until further orders, he stated.
Meanwhile, the number of people, entering the district from Maharashtra, has increased after a week-long lockdown imposed in the Nagpur district because of a spurt in Covid-19 positive cases.
A total of 44 students of the MIDC Hostel in Latur had undergone Covid-19 test. Of them, the reports of 19 students confirmed positive for the virus. Due to this, panic has gripped border villages of the district.
There are six routes to enter Bidar from Maharashtra. However, the district administration has set up check posts in three districts. As strict measures have been taken at the check posts, the travellers are taking other routes to enter the district. Deputy Commissioner Ramachandran said of 100 people who undergo the Covid-19 testing daily, two test positive. Bidar has been categorised as a red zone. The health department officials have been directed to increase Covid testing on the border areas.
Rising cases of Covid forces NEKRTC to suspend bus services of Maharashtra
