Covid-19 case: 119 people came in contact with family directly or indirectly, 23 in Chandigarh

Contact tracing was done and samples of five more suspects for COVID-19 — father, mother, brother, cook and driver — were taken at GMCH-32. In all, 119 contacts have been traced.

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The health department has now also stamped on the back of palm of the family similar to what has been done at the Mumbai International Airport.

A CHAIN of 119 people has been traced who directly or indirectly came in contact with the first COVID-19 case reported in Chandigarh. All have been home quarantined and a stamp has been marked on their hands.

Contact tracing was done and samples of five more suspects for COVID-19 — father, mother, brother, cook and driver — were taken at GMCH-32. In all, 119 contacts have been traced.

A flight co-passenger, gardener and his family all were traced and quarantined. The victim’s family came in contact with two more contacts in Mohali and Panchkula during this three-day period and they too have been quarantined.
The administration also traced contacts of the victim’s brother who travelled to Delhi with friends, stayed at the friend’s place and held a meeting with three Delhi residents. The administration has sent all these details to Delhi’s state surveillance unit for quarantine. In all, 12 contacts of the patient, 70 secondary contacts (those of father and brother) and 37 secondary contacts (contacts of primary contacts of the patient) have been traced.

Out of 119 those who are in Chandigarh are being home quarantined. Twenty-three individuals in Chandigarh have been home quarantined with stamp on their hand.

In the locality where Chandigarh’s first COVID-19 case was reported from, an unusual silence reigned on the streets. A pall of gloom has descended on the area which has houses of mostly businessmen, industrialists and prominent lawyers. Just a police barricade that leads to the street where the victim resides is enough for people to recognise that this is not normal.

Not just those in two-wheelers or pedestrians, even those travelling in cars here were completely masked — the only area in Chandigarh which seems to have been quite on vigil ever since the word has spread that the city’s first COVID-19 victim was here. Be it maids, vendors or visitors in this area, everyone was masked.

“I have got this mask from the owner of the house where I work. They said the house next to theirs has got that virus,” a maid who had completely covered her mouth and nose with a mask said requesting anonymity.

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Federation of Sectors Welfare Association of Chandigarh has appointed its two masked men as security near the barricades to prevent people from entering the area. Incidentally, the FOSWAC chairman too stays right opposite the victim’s house.

“The family members and those working in the house were taken away by the health department in the daytime. Now, as far as I know, they have been home quarantined here and police have been deployed to ensure that they don’t come out,” he said.

But it’s an unusual fear that has gripped the locality. All morning and evening walks have been suspended. The health department is said to have carried out fumigation of the area too.

“I just have one point: why didn’t the department act swiftly? All these two-three days the family may have come in contact with many people,” said the FOSWAC chairman.

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The health department has now also stamped on the back of palm of the family similar to what has been done at the Mumbai International Airport.

Earlier, UT Adviser Manoj Parida said, “The COVID victim may have come in contact with 100 fellows in these three days before being tested positive for it. We have sent details of the victim’s flight to Government of India. We are still trying to carry out the contact tracing.”

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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