NEW DELHI: A Red alert was sounded in the national capital, last week, to thwart the spread of plague following reports that people from plague affected areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra had fled after the outbreak of the dreaded disease,

Meanwhile, the Surat district health authorities confirmed, late ‘on Friday night Sept23, that the epidemic in the industrial township was the outbreak of “pneumonia plague,” The plague has claimed 70 lives in Surat and triggered an exodus of 300,000 persons.

‘The decision to sound a red alert was taken by the Delhi Chief Minister, Madan Lal Khurana, after a high level meeting here, on Friday.

The Chief Minister said that since there was every possibility of people coming to Delhi from the plague hit areas, it was necessary to take precautionary measures. The epidemic in Surat city showed all signs of being, pneumonia plague. As many as 400 cases had been detected in Surat to the NICD Director, Dr. K.K. Datta.

Meanwhile, a red alert has been sounded throughout Kamataka, particularly in the areas bordering Maharashtra following the epidemic outbreak of plague in western India. the Madhya Pradesh Government also, on Friday, ordered Precautionary measures to be taken in the state. The Andhra Pradesh Government has also alerted its health department to meet any eventuality. All entry points to Rajasthan from Gujarat are being closely monitored the wake of the plague epidemic in the adjoining static. One out of every 10 persons being admitted to the hospital every hour was succumbing to the disease. An estimated three lakh panic-stricken persons have deserted their homes and set out for destinations that were decided on highways and railway Stations, The worst affected Ved Road and Katargam areas almost resembled a ghost town and those, who were still there, were packing their bags. The railway sources said nearly 75,000 tickets have been issued for Bombay, Ahmedabad, Bareda, Bhusaval and several other towns during Tess than 24 hours,

Meanwhile, according to a report from Baroda, two persons died in city hospitals on Friday night of Suspected plague.

Ahmedabad district collector, Kint Shelet, on Friday night, declared the city plague threatened.”

The Union Health Ministry has Set Up a control room at the NICD in New Delhi to monitor the plague Situation in Surat city, in Gujarat and Beed district in Maharashtra.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 30, 1994