14 train returnees from Hyderabad quarantined in Hailakandi

A CORRESPONDENT

HAILAKANDI: 14 passengers of South Assam's Hailakandi district arrived by 07047 BB Nagar-Jiribam special train on Tuesday morning. The train that departed from Hyderabad on Saturday reached Badarpur railway station in Karimganj district at around 7 am. Of the total 47 passengers disembarking at Badarpur railway station, 14 are from Hailakandi district while 24 are from Cachar and nine from Karimganj district.

Assistant Commissioner, Parikshit Phukan said altogether 25 passengers from Hailakandi district booked tickets for the train, as per the list provided by the government, but only 14 boarded it.

Health personnel of the district camping at the Badarpur railway station received the passengers, screened them and conducted other necessary health check-ups whilst maintaining social distancing. ASTC buses were arranged to ferry the passengers to the district. The administration quarantined the persons at ALC College, Algapur for 14-days period. Another 18 persons coming from outside the state have been put under institutional quarantine at DIET. Swab samples of all the persons have been collected for onward transmission to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital. "All the returnees are in good spirits and they have cooperated with the administration in every possible way," said Phukan. Health authorities informed that 783 persons are under home quarantine as on Monday. 1,649 persons have completed 28-days quarantine period.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) chaired by Deputy Commissioner cum Chairman, DDMA, MN Dahal was held on Thursday to chalk out a plan for institutional quarantine of migrant workers and others coming from outside the state by special trains and other modes of transport.

The meeting decided to form a purchase committee under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner cum CEO, DDMA, RK Dam to procure items like beds, pillows, mattresses etc needed for the quarantine centres through short tender notice. The meeting authorised the Executive Engineer, PHED and Executive Engineer, PWD (Building) Division, Silchar to undertake emergency work like construction of temporary toilets, sanitation facilities and also minor repairing of quarantine centres as per approved rates of the concerned departments. It also approved post facto approval against the contingency fund of Rs.60,000 to the Circle Officers, DPO, DDMA and Nazir, DC's establishment at Rs.10,000 each, besides approving a further sum of Rs.20,000 per circle on a need basis. The administration has already notified some government buildings and institutions for setting up of additional quarantine facilities to accommodate the incoming people. 

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