Himachal: 41 Out Of 42 Residents Of Thorang Village Test Positive For Covid-19, Tourists Barred From Entering The Area

The Thorang village in Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases recently, Times of India reports. Except a 52-year-old man named Bhushan Thakur, all other 41 residents from the hinterland have tested positive for the virus.

This has prompted the concerned administration to limit the movement of tourists near the north portal of Rohtang tunnel. The villages beyond the tunnel have been declared as containment zones as the Lahaul-Spiti valley has become the worst-affected district in the state with respect to the ratio of population.

The villagers are said to have gathered together for a religious program recently. Later on, they voluntarily got tested and it emerged that 41 out of the 42 samples were positive for Covid-19. 856 people in the district have contracted the virus so far as Dr Palzor, chief medical officer of Lahaul-Spiti, is requesting the citizens to get tested out of their own volition.

Speaking to TOI, Bhushan Thakur explained, “I'm staying in a separate room and have been cooking my own meals for the last four days. I was with my family members until we got to know about the results. However, I was strict about all protocols like sanitising hands, wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing when in public areas. People should not take this disease lightly. As winter season is setting in, people should take extra precaution.”