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The government on Friday establishing two more checkpoints along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway to screen passengers for coronavirus on their arrival in the valley.
The move followed complaints of massive traffic jams and travelers missing the screening by taking alternative routes.
The government had on March 4 established a checkpoint near Lower Munda. Police along with the surveillance team from the Health Department have been inquiring the visitors about their travel history both within India and other countries at the checkpoint.
Later, the passengers have to undergo thermal screening.
“We have established two more screening points apart from the one at Lower Munda Zig- ie, main Lower Munda and Nadoora–Dooru link road,” deputy commissioner Anantnag
He said the Lower Munda check-post would help to prevent traffic jams as was witnessed yesterday.
“At this checkpoint passengers traveling in contract carriage and heavy vehicles would be screened, while as at the already established one at Zig, would now manage passengers of private vehicles,” the DC said.
He said the Nadoora post would ensure that those passengers who bypass the highway, taking three other alternate routes after entering the valley are not left without screening.
The government has already closed down the Verinag-Imo route by erecting barricades.
This was done following the story carried by this newspaper that how several travels including laborers from outside J&K have missed screening for coronavirus by taking this route to reach the valley.
A health official informed that a team of 18 people that includes doctors, paramedics, and traffic cops has been designated for screening at each checkpoint.
“From yesterday to Friday morning we screened more than 90000 passengers who arrived in the valley,” BMO Qazigund
Div Com visits Screening Centres:
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole, today visited COVID–19 screening Centre at Zig Qazigund and peripheries to take stock of the arrangement put in place for the screening of passengers, visiting the valley through Jawaharlal Tunnel.
DDC Anantnag Bashir Ahmad Dar, DDC Kulgam, Showkat Aijaz Bhat, ADDC Anantnag, Khwaja Nazir Ahmad, ADC Anantnag, Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, SSP Kulgam, Gurinder Pal Sing, CMOs of both districts, DSP Traffic Qazigund and other concerned accompanied the Div Com.
At Zig Qazigund, he was briefed about the arrangements put in place for the screening of the passengers to ensure no passenger enters the valley without screening.
On the occasion, the Div Com directed the DCs to work in coordination and ensure cent percent screening of the passengers with proper care. The Dy. SP Traffic, Qazigund was directed to ensure the movement of vehicles including contract carriers, passenger & personal vehicles, trucks and other load carriers through designated screening centers to avoid the traffic jamming and to ensure that every passenger is screened. The CMOS of both the districts were directed to deploy additional staff to screening centers.
Later, the Div Com also visited Trauma Hospital Qazigund and took stock of the healthcare facilities for the public. He also visited Transit camp at Walnut Factory, Qazigund to see if the camp can be used during the emergency, if raised, in wake of COVID–19 spread.
The Div Com also visited newly constructed residential quarters at Vessu and GDC Boys Khannabal Anantnag to assess if these places could be used in case of exigency. He directed the DDC Anantnag to ensure all the basic facilities to both the places.
Earlier, the Div Com visited the under-construction Road Tunnel at Vujru Qazigund to review the pace of the work. He was informed that the tunnel will be through for the traffic by the end of September 2020.
