COVID-19: Passenger-screening camp sans machine at Kokrajhar Railway Station

Our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR: As a preventive measure to contain the pandemic coronavirus disease, the Department of Health, BTC had set up a Passenger Screening Camp at Kokrajhar Railway Station and Srirampur inter-State gate on Friday to examine the passengers coming from different parts of the country and the State either by train or by road. But, the fact is that the medical team at Kokrajhar Railway Station does not have screening machine to detect the deadly disease.

On day two, a doctor and two nurses were seen in the passenger screening camp at Kokrajhar railway station on Saturday. The medical camp with Dr AS Ahmed was not equipped with any screening machine so they simply collected the names and address of the passengers, especially those coming from other States. Conscious section of people said that the steps taken by the district administration at Kokrajhar railway station was just an eyewash as large number of passengers were seen reluctant to get their names entered in the register and there was no manpower to make it mandatory for passengers.

Talking to reporters, Dr Ahmed said they had no screening machine to examine the passengers but the machine would come soon. He also said that suspected persons would be taken to isolation room.

Meanwhile, Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police Rakesh Roushan admitted to a section of media persons that there was lack of manpower at Kokrajhar railway station to assist the medical team. He said sufficient police personnel could not been deployed as the police force was deployed in different places for BTC election duty. He hoped that it could be met very soon.

There has been fear and apprehension among the people of Kokrajhar as many youths who had been working in different shopping malls, restaurants, industries and companies in Kerala and other southern cities are returning home by trains and proper screening was the need of the hour but there was no machine to detect suspected cases of coronavirus. People of Kokrajhar have expressed serious concern over lack of screening machines in Kokrajhar at this crucial time.

On the other hand, many offices in Kokrajhar are seen setting up hand washing facilities in their respective office premises. Kokrajhar Government College also set up the hand washing facility on Saturday. Many offices were seen restricting the visitors, customers and only limited number of persons were allowed to enter.

Also read: BTC Set up Passenger Screening camp at Kokrajhar Railway Station

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