Nagpur central prison locked down to halt COVID-19 spread

Mumbai, Apr 30 () Maharashtra Home Minister AnilDeshmukh on Thursday said the Nagpur central prison will belocked down immediately to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

With the decision, the Nagpur central prison becomesthe eighth jail to be locked down in the state, according toan official statement.

Earlier, the government had locked down Mumbai,Thane and Yerwada central prisons, Byculla and Kalyan districtprisons and Aurangabad and Nashik prisons to stem the spreadof the viral infection.

The statement said that, as in the case of the otherprisons, the Nagpur jail superintendent will have to deployofficials and staffers in two shifts.

The officials and staffers working in the jail shouldbe provided food and accommodation in the prison premiseitself, the statement said.

Care should be taken to keep the main gate of theprison completely shut during the lockdown, the statementsaid.

It added that the contact numbers of senior prisonofficials be shared with families of the staffers so that thekin can call up the seniors in case there is any problem.

The nationwide lockdown, imposed late last month tocontain the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, will be inforce till May 3. ENMRSY RSY