The Dalma wildlife sanctuary officials have requested East Singhbhum district authorities to conduct a Covid vaccination drive at all the 85-odd villages dotting the elephant abode at the earliest.

With the deadly virus spreading its wings in villages of Jharkhand, the Dalma officials are serious and are against taking any risk.

East Singhbhum civil surgeon Dr A.K. Lal has been requested to facilitate the mobile Covid vaccination drive in villages.

“I have written a letter to the civil surgeon for the same. Villagers cannot travel all the way to Jamshedpur to get vaccinations. It would be a wise idea if the East Singhbhum civil surgeon facilitates mobile vaccination drives in villages itself. Vaccination for villagers is of utmost importance at this crucial juncture,” said Dalma divisional forest officer Abhishek Kumar to The Telegraph Online.

He added that they have also been raising Covid awareness among forest staff and stressing on the importance of maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and using sanitisers.

A forest official said the 85-odd villages inside the sanctuary do not come under them. “They are revenue villages and the forest department does not have a direct control on them. We can only request government authorities to conduct vaccination drives in villages for the benefit of the inhabitants,” he added.

Forest officials are wary of animals getting infected by the virus. “If the virus spreads in Dalma villages, it can easily get transmitted to animals. This is the reason we have closed the sanctuary for tourists,” the forest official explained.

Though the villagers are aware about the Covid-related situation but travelling to the steel city to get vaccines is not practically possible. “Most of the villagers do not have the means to travel to Jamshedpur. So it would be better if the government comes to their doorstep and facilitates mobile vaccination camp,” the forest official added.

“Our job is to protect the flora and fauna as well as wild animals living in the sanctuary. But we do tell villagers the importance of social distancing while passing through villages. We have to pass through villages while daily patrolling,” a forester said.

Patrolling is continuing in both the eastern and western ranges of the sanctuary, 30 km from Jamshedpur. Patrolling is aimed at watching the position of elephants and other animals as well as keeping an eye on illegal tree felling.

The elephants, all of whom have come back to the sanctuary after their annual sojourn to the jungles of West Midnapore and Bankura in neighbouring Bengal, are presently stationed uphill.