Mangaluru, Feb 22(UNI) Amid rising cases in neighbouring Kerala, authorities in Karnataka have decided to close 13 points of entry located in Wayanad and Kasaragod district in Kerala.
A long queue of vehicles was seen at the Talapady checkpost since Monday morning as officials have initiated the process of screening travellers from Kerala who enter Dakshina Kannada through the check-post.
Senior officials including District Health Officer, Tahsildar and police officials are at the spot.
All vehicles entering Mangaluru from Kerala are stopped and Covid reports of the people concerned are verified. Covid negative reports not older than 72 hours is mandatory for those entering the district from Kerala.
The measure has been taken in the wake of a spike in Covid cases in Kerala in the recent past. All inter-state borders with Kerala are closed except the borders at Talapady, Nettanige Mudnuru, Saradka in Bantwal, Menala in Puttur and Jalsur in Sullia.
Meanwhile people living along the border areas in the district are protesting against the inconvenience caused to them.
This has come as a jolt for Kerala residents living in these border areas as the open borders provide a huge succour to the people living on either side. They move freely for various needs, especially the farming community who regularly move from Kerala to engage in such activities on the lands they either own or take on lease in Karnataka.
According to travellers, Karnataka is insisting on negative RT-PCR covid test results. While Kerala has called the move unwarranted, Karnakata authorities say it is a necessary one.
UNI BSP/HVN SV 1637