More on Covid-19

BHOPAL: Fed up with people violating the corona curfew , the administration of Chhatarpur district's Rajnagar - which houses the famous Khajuraho temples - had locked up houses from outside for two days to keep quarantined people indoors.The administration opened up the locks on Friday night after the residents promised that they will follow the quarantine rules.At least 50 houses were locked up in the last two days, say officials. They will be unlocked after the 14-day quarantine period is over. The region is free of Covid-19 an d the local administration wants to keep it that way. Rajnagar subdivisional magistrate Swapnil Wankhede , who initiated the tough move, said, "This is a precautionary measure. Our team members regularly visit these houses to see if they need any help." Those now locked up in their own homes include drivers who had ferried tourists, including foreigners, to Delhi and Bhopal and those out on the streets for no reason.The Khajuraho temples that draw lakhs of tourists are in Rajnagar, about 45km from the district headquarters of Chattarpur . Khajuraho went into lockdown on March 25, much before any other place in the state, and curfew was clamped soon after. About 33 foreigners got stuck in the curfew, and put up at hotels or in people's homes.They have been leaving the tourist destination as and when they are called by their embassies in Delhi. So far, about 25 of them have left after coordinating with local authorities."Among those whose houses are locked are drivers, who had taken some foreigners to Delhi. They drove through Agra and other places affected by Covid-19," the SDM told TOI. After they returned, the administration asked them to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days. But many of them were spotted outside their homes, said the SDM."We decided to lock their houses. They have been given phone numbers for home delivery of essential commodities and medicines. Besides, our officials visit them daily," the SDM explained. Some of those quarantined include family members of those who had travelled out due to medical emergency. "We cannot take any chances," the SDM said.