Amid coronavirus threat, people returning to Kashmir alleged that mismanagement at Srinagar’s lone airport was creating chaos and confusion among the travellers.
For last two days, a number of videos and pictures uploadedon various social media platforms show the aggrieved passengers highlightingthe messy affairs at the airport.
“People with some approach in the administration are allowedto leave immediately after disembarking from the planes, while the commonersare made to wait for hours,” said Muhammad Ismail, who was returning fromDelhi.
A passenger said the administration must increase number ofscreening counters for inbound travellers. “We had to wait for almost two hoursbefore filing a simple form which records our bio-data.”
According to official sources, there are four counters atthe Srinagar Airport where every inbound passenger fills up a self-declarationform, and the medicos check their body temperature. “Those with travel history to foreigncountries are put in quarantine centre.”
Kashmir’s first Covid-19 patient had arrived at the SrinagarAirport on March 16; she was travelling along with 78 Umrah pilgrims. Questionsare being asked as to why the authorities failed to detect her at the airportitself.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang Pole said: “Therewill be strict action against those persons concealing information about theirtravel history.”
According to sources, many people are concealing theirtravel history fearing that authorities may put them in quarantine centre.
As per the Srinagar district administration 250 students whoreached Srinagar Airport have been put in quarantine centre.
A senior aviation official informed that “administration isfacing problem because of the fact that many passengers with travel history tooutside country or corona affected countries are concealing their travelhistory. Yesterday, a person coming from Saudi Arabia had informed theofficials that he had returned from Delhi to escape quarantine. But our staffafter cross-examining him, found out his travel history to foreign,” he said.
“Similarly, yesterday when were taking students who hadreturned from Bangladesh to quarantine centres, their family members raised hueand cry which is unfortunate as we are doing it all for their safety as well asthe safety of people of Kashmir.”
Director Srinagar Airport, Santosh Dhoke said “screening ofevery passenger is mandatory as per the laid down protocol. People have to bearwith us. We have four counters where inbound travellers have to fillself-declaration form and also the medicos do necessary check-up as perprocedure to prevent spread of covid-19.”