Due to social stigma and the widespread panic, due to the existing coronavirus pandemic, a youth in Dolaba village, Odisha is forced to quarantine in his car.
The youth has been identified as Mahaba Patra, a videographer who went to Bihar for a project on May 3 and returned after 3 days. Before reaching Odisha he had registered his name in the list of returnees and had also informed the Ganjam Collector. Since he had no symptoms he was allowed to stay in home quarantine in Berhampur. After completing 14 days of quarantine period and testing negative for the virus he received clearance to return to Dolaba.
Patra travelled in his car despite heavy rains caused by the Amphan cyclone. Upon his arrival, a few villagers asked him to stay in quarantine despite seeing his clearance papers.
After Patra complained in the police station, the officials termed it as a misunderstanding and granted permission for Patra to stay at home. However, the very next day, his father was infuriated by some villagers following which the sarpanch had asked the youth to stay in a nearby quarantine centre.
Patra was forced to stay in the premises of the quarantine centre. However, he refused to stay in the facility and agreed to quarantine himself in his car, which is parked in the premises.
“I informed the matter to the local authorities but to no avail. Since there is a risk of contracting the infection in institutional quarantine where many migrant workers are housed, I decided to stay in my car. I hope the administration intervenes and saves me from this predicament,” said Patra.
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