The district administration on Saturday closed down an alternative road taken by passenger vehicles to bypass Coronavirus screening centre along Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
The decision to shut theroute was taken after Greater Kashmir reported in its Saturday’s editionthat several passengers including non-local laborers were evading Coronavirusscreening by bypassing the centre at Lower Munda Zig check post, and wereinstead taking alternate Imo-Verinag road to cross Jawahar Tunnel.
“We have deployed men from traffic and police to ensure thatnobody takes this route from now onwards,” said Deputy Commissioner Anantnag,Bashir Ahmad Dar.
He said barricades havebeen erected to ensure no vehicle was able to use the road. “We are evencontemplating to erect iron barricades there,” the DC said.
Atthe screening point, travelers entering Kashmir including tourists are beingstopped by J&K Police and a surveillance team and asked about their travelhistory, both within and outside country.
The travelers are thensubjected to thermal screening. However, a health official had told GreaterKashmir that many passengers including nonlocal laborers had been avoidingthe screening by taking alternate route.
GreaterKashmir hadeven located some nonlocal laborers who had entered the Valley without goingfor the necessary screening.
The DC today visited the screening center at Zig Lower Mundain Qazigund to take stock of the arrangements being put in place for screeningof the passengers.
He stressed upon the functionaries at the center to takeutmost care while screening the passengers for COVID–19 symptoms and ensurecent percent screening of the passengers, an official handout said.
Later, the DC visited SDH Dooru to take stock of thehealthcare facilities being provided to the patients. He stressed upon the BMOto maintain duty roster and ensure round-the-clock availability of the doctorsand paramedical staff at the hospital.
The DC later interacted with the patients and attendants andassured them that all their healthcare-related issues will be addressed atearliest.
He appealed the patients and attendants that they should notto pay heed to rumors and instead take preventive measures.