The district administration of Kasitand village of Govindpur block has sealed the boundaries of the village to carry out a Rapid Antigen Test drive, after five people including 4 members of a family died in the last week.

A team led by Block Development Officer, Santosh Kumar and Circle officer, Ramji Verma accompanied by officer in charge of Govindpur Police station, Ganga Sagar visited the village on Wednesday to take stock of the situation and persuade the local residents to cooperate in the testing drive.

Rabbani Ansari, an ailing villager died six days ago, his cousin brother, Tale Ansari died two days after. Another member of the same family, Riyazul Ansari died on April 19.

Rabbani’s distant relative died on Wednesday and an unidentified woman of the same village died three days ago.

The five deaths created a sense of panic among villagers.

“With four members of a family dying till April 19, we have taken the issue seriously and carried out intensive contract tracing of the family and identified 65 persons whose samples have been sent for RT PCR tests,” Santosh Kumar said.

“Though the RT PCR results have yet not arrived so we can’t say whether the deaths have been caused due to Covid or not,” said Kumar.

“We however have carried out a survey of the village today to identify the families where people are unwell and will carry out a RAT Test in the village tomorrow with the focus on such families,” elaborated Kumar and added that villagers have been asked not to panic.