Several test +ve at centres in Baghpat, Hapur, sent back
MEERUT : Baghpat district Rajkamal Yadav said at least 11 people tested positive at different counting centres in the district where the counting of votes for the panchayat elections was in progress.
Similarly, additional superintendent of police (Hapur) Sarvesh Mishra said at least 12 people were found positive in Garh, Dhaulana and Simbhawli block counting centres and they were sent back.
Counting agents and candidates were allowed entry only into the centres after they presented a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test report. Those who failed to produce RT-PCR test reports had to undergo rapid antigen test. Those who tested positive were sent to home isolation.
Counting was also underway at centres in Meerut, Bulandshahr, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Bijnor and other districts of the region.
Arrangements were made for thermal scanning at each counting centre.
The biggest challenge for officials was to maintain physical distancing at each counting table as each village had multiple candidates.
“It was almost impossible to maintain social distancing after with 30 to 40 agents at each counting table,” said an official who did not wish to be named.
Additional director general of police (Meerut zone) Rajeev Sabharwal visited different counting centres of the zone. He said a roster system helped the police reduce the crowd by more than 60 per cent.
He also said announcements were made everywhere, asking the villagers to prevent crowding.
He, however, admitted there was overlapping of crowds at some centres with slow counting.
Barring a few incidents of altercation, delay in counting due to ill health of some staff, counting was carried out peacefully amid tight security arrangements.
It was almost impossible to maintain social distancing after with 30 to 40 agents at each counting table
OFFICIAL