Dhubri & Kokrajhar under corona scanner: Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

ASTC to ferry 41,691 stranded people

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The steep rise in the number of corona cases in West Bengal is a cause of concern for Assam that has two districts – Dhubri and Kokrajhar – sharing borders with the neighbouring State. The State Health and Family Welfare department has intensified its vigil against corona manifold in the two districts.

Talking to the media here on Friday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We haven’t been under corona scare over the days. However, now we’ve reason to worry about. The steep rise in the number of corona cases in West Bengal is a real threat for Assam, especially for Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts.

“Already six corona positive cases have been detected in Dhubri district, and the positive cases are detected almost after a regular interval of time. We’ve intensified vigil against COVID-19 in these two districts. From Sunday next we’re going to conduct 150 random corona tests in Dhubri town, Bilasipara and Chapor in Dhubri district.”

The Minister has further said that from today all medical colleges and civil hospitals of the State are open for general patients.

On the inter-district movement of certain categories of people, Sarma said, “Destination passes to vehicles are being issued for the movement of people. The deputy commissioners have received around 51,000 stranded people who want to go homes in their own vehicles. The deputy commissioners have rejected 19,000 such applications for various reasons. While 12,200 such permissions have already been issued for travel on April 25, 19,000 other applications are under consideration for travel on April 26 and 27.

“As many as 41,691 applications have been received from people who are to go to their respective destinations with ASTC (Assam State Transport Corporation) buses. Such people are staying at various locations in Guwahati and other districts. For their transportation to the ASTC buses’ pick-up points 100 cabbies of Uber and 20 ASTC buses will run in Guwahati. Since the number of applicants is 41,691 two or three more days may be extended for this travel facility.”

On Assam Care, Sarma said, “As many as 1.51 lakh people of the State stranded in other States have been paid Rs 2,000 each under this scheme. It has amounted to Rs 30 crore. As many as 77,000 such applications are under verification.”

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