Covid-19: Dharavi's dramatic return from the brink

Mumbai, June 21 Marking a major success story, Mumbai's sore underbelly - Dharavi - has made a dramatic return from the brink in the ongoing war against coronavirus.

As per the latest official data released on Sunday, Dharavi's doubling time of corona cases has become more than twice compared with the wider Mumbai city - indicating a major turnaround in the situation there.

With a series of stringent measures for Covid-19 prevention, combat strategies and strict enforcement implemented, the results finally have begun to show in the hotspot.

"The Dharavi 'tension' is off our heads now. We have worked really hard to bring it to this level and it has given excellent results with the local peoples' full support," an elated Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar told .

She said that the multi-pronged strategy also involved isolation in large numbers to "break the chain" and the local population extended wholehearted cooperation in this.

"I am confident that the situation in Dharavi will improve even further in July. This will give us time to concentrate on the eastern and western suburbs of Mumbai which are causing concern," Pednekar added.

Dharavi, in south-central Mumbai, enjoys a dubious reputation of being Asia's largest slum pocket with a population of over 5 lakh crammed in a 2.25 square km area, making it the most congested place on earth.

While the doubling rate of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai is 34 days, that in Dharavi is practically double at 78 days, according to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation

( With inputs from IANS )