West zone set to be ‘worst zone’ in Ahmedabad city?

The west zone of Ahmedabad city has been seeing a consistent rise in the number of Covid-19 cases. Zone-wise, it has the second-highest number of active cases after the north zone. While that has been the case for some time now, the rapid increase in cases daily is worrisome. On Monday, this zone, covering areas like Navrangpura, Naranpura, Paldi, Ambavadi, Sabarmati, Ranip, Vadaj, Motera, Chandkheda Vasna which are considered well-off, reported its highest single-day jump with 81cases. It was also higher than all other zones.

In the entire month of June, the west zone had the highest number of daily cases of Covid-19 on four days, and second-highest on six days. It was in the second position on June 1, 3, 7, 10, 12, and 14.

Till June 15, the city had as many as 4,441active cases, of which north zone accounted for 902 cases, closely followed by the west with 851. The north zone includes Asarwa, India Colony, Naroda, Sardarnagar, Krishnanagar, Thakkarbapanagar, Saraspur, and Meghaninagar.

The east covers Bapunagar, Rakhial, Gomtipur, Amraiwadi, Odhav, Nikol, Vastral, and Bhaipura. Maninagar, Behrampura, Danilimda, Ghodasar, Khokhra, Vatva, Isanpur, and Lambha are in the south zone, while the central zone includes Jamalpur, Khadia, Kalupur, Dariapur, Shahpur Dudheshwar, Madhupura, and Raikhad.

Thaltej, Gota, Vastrapur, Bodakdev, Chandlodia, Ghatlodia are in the northwest zone, while Jodhpur, Satellite, Prahladnagar, Sarkhej, Maktampur, Juhapura and Vejalpur are in southwest zone.

WHEN WEST PEAKED IN JUNE

Commenting on the situation, mayor Bijal Patel said, “We have been watching not just the west zone, but the whole of Ahmedabad. We have Dhanvantari rath going to various places in the city. But in many areas, people are reluctant to approach the staff. If they have mild symptoms and take medicines, they can be cured. But they delay seeking medical help until it is too late. In fact, we also provide immunity boosters to those who are healthy, but even they rarely come forward.” ‘AMC does not have a strategy’ Dinesh Sharma, leader of opposition in AMC, said, “Till May 15, Ahmedabad city had 6,786 cases. A month later, now the figure has reached 16,360—an increase of 9,574 cases. There were 459 deaths till May 15, which rose to 1,184. So there have been 725 deaths in a month. Thus, on an average, there have been 319 cases and 24 deaths daily. Cases are increasing daily, but the corporation does not have a strategy to deal with it. Initially, AMC was working seriously. Now cases are increasing across the city, but the corporation does not have a strategy for testing or surveillance. As a result, people are suffering.

Arjun Gajjar, a private company employee living in Naranpura, said, “There are several cases in our area. People do not follow social distancing at many places. They should also remain alert to any symptom and seek medical help early if they sense any health problem.”

...in many areas, people are reluctant to approach the staff (of Dhanvantari rath). If they have mild symptoms and take medicines, they can be cured

Bijal Patel, Mayor

Cases are increasing daily, but AMC does not have a strategy to deal with it. Initially, AMC was working seriously. That is not the case now and people are suffering

Dinesh Sharma, Leader of Oppn, AMC