Burial ground as isolation area for Covid-infected in Telangana's Mahbubnagar

Mahbubnagar: With the spread of Covid-19 infection even to remote areas, the residents of Kishtampalli Thanda in Nawabpet Mandal of Mahbubnagar district have hit upon a novel idea — of shifting those tested Covid-19 positive to the burial ground for isolation purpose.

Kishtampalli village sarpanch Srinivasulu said the burial ground is adjacent to the Palle Vanam (village forest). A congenial atmosphere prevails there with sufficient natural oxygen supply.

The thanda is 500 metres away from Kishtampalli. The burial ground is adjacent to the thanda that has a population of 200. The village is safe from Covid-19 but residents of the thanda were infected.

The sarpanch said four people recently came from Pune to the thanda. All of them tested positive. They spread the infection to the other houses. “As the houses are small and congested, we have decided to shift them to the burial ground (Vaikunta Dhamam) where we have recently built a room.”

The Vaikunta Dhamam has trees that turn the air fresh. This is an ideal place for people to live in isolation. Both electricity and water connections have been provided there.

The sarpanch urged the thanda people to take care of their health and shift people with symptoms of corona to the isolation room. Villagers are helping them with food and medicines. “We have served these isolated people with biryani in the past two days,” the sarpanch said.

A tribal who was isolated along with 10 others from his thanda said he was feeling better with sufficient sunlight and air. “We were told by doctors to stand facing the Sun for about an hour in the morning to get Vitamin-D. The villagers are helpful in our time of distress,” he said.

Are they afraid of sleeping in the burial ground at night? The tribal youth said they have no fear as the thanda is close by. "We are used to sleeping in the fields and this space is fine for us," he said.

The sarpanch said he had enquired about their stay during the night and was told they were sleeping together. We have provided electricity. So they are comfortable,” he said.

A team of doctors has been visiting them and monitoring their health status. The sarpanch said the facility at the burial ground has a capacity to lodge 30 people. “We told the thanda people to maintain physical distance and wear masks to protect themselves,” he said.