SRINAGAR March 21 (KINS): Posing a serious threat of spread of virus, people returning from abroad are escaping to be taken for quarantine in Kashmir.
As coronavirus has gripped the entire world, hundreds of Kashmiri students and other people are arriving Srinagar Airport from different countries daily.
However, there are many who are escaping to be taken for quarantine in the valley.
“My daughter who returned from Delhi is quarantined. But few of her friends managed to escape the quarantined. After reaching Delhi, they (her friends) boarded a flight to Jammu and then to Srinagar. At the Srinagar Airport, they concede they returned from Bangladesh instead told the medical staff they were staying in Jammu,” a parent told Kashmir Indepth News Service, who daughter is quarantined at Shaltang.
He said some students were producing fake identity cards to escape the laid out procedures.
A source at Srinagar Airport said there were loopholes to check the credentials of those who returning from various parts. “While some are hiding their travel history others board flight to Jammu from Delhi then Srinagar to escape to be taken to be quarantined. They hide they return from abroad,” the source said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K. Pole said the administration will not tolerate any violations of the procedures.
“Strict action will be taken against those who do not follow the rules,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pole visited various quarantine facility centers across Srinagar city which were established for suspected Covid-19 patients. On the occasion he interacted with the quarantined people and enquired about their wellbeing besides, enquiring doctors about the present status of quarantine and screening of the patients at these centers.
He asked the concerned officials to work with dedication and ensure all the facilities are made available to the people being quarantined at these centers. He asked them to take all the precautionary measures to containing the spread of infection.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, who is overall in-charge of coronavirus control efforts in Kashmir has directed strict monitoring at Srinagar International Airport and Jawahar Tunnel to ensure thorough screening of passengers and travellers.
The Advisor said that health officials must maintain a constant watch on cases and immediate reporting and shifting of those who might develop Covid-19 symptoms is of critical importance. (KINS)
