Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 25: It may the need of the hour, but Kashmiris abroad, who are returning home have become an additional expenditure worth millions on the government of Jammu and Kashmir as they have to be quarantined at special facilities where boarding and lodging is offered free of cost.
Sources said around 2,000 Kashmiris mostly those studying abroad have been quarantined at special facilities that have been raised out of hotels at some “secret locations” in the last around a fortnight.
Sources said though the government is yet to fix rates to be paid to such hotels, the precautionary services will cost millions to the Union Territory.
Officials said though such quarantine facilities have also been established in Jammu as well, the number of those quarantined in Kashmir is much bigger than that in the winter capital.
“The load on the quarantine facilities in Kashmir shows that the number of Kashmiris settled abroad is much bigger and unbelievable,” said a senior official.
It is pertinent to mention that in wake of coronavirus pandemic, the Jammu and Kashmir government under the dynamic leadership of Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu is no leaving no stone unturned to prevent the spread of the deadly disease in the UT.
The airports, railway stations and even bus stands have been screening the incoming passengers and those coming from abroad are being put on quarantine.
In Jammu and Kashmir, around 4,000 persons are under surveillance for the coronavirus while a few of them have tested positive for the ailment.
The government has announced a lockdown in most of the districts of Jammu and Kashmir while the majority of people have welcomed the decision.
Given the shortage of resources, the government has been efforting more on preventive measures to contain any possible spread of the ailment while quarantine is one such measure.
When contacted a senior official said more such facilities would be needed in the coming days keeping in view the inflow of the passengers from abroad. |
