500 Kangra residents back from West Asian nations untraced

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, March 22

The Kangra administration is having tough time tracing nearly 500 local residents who have returned from West Asian countries in the last three days.

Sources said most of these residents were youths who worked there as skilled labourers.

Since the Ministry of External Affairs has not provided any data on such immigrants, the authorities here are relying on information from sources to track these people.

When contacted, Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati said as per their estimates, at least 500 persons had returned from Middle East countries following the outbreak of deadly Covid.

He said it was unfortunate that these people were not coming forward themselves for testing and examination at the Tanda medical college.

“We are relying on information from our sources to trace these people. We have requested villagers and other residents of the district to provide information at emergency number 1077 if they have any knowledge about people who have recently returned from a foreign trip. At present, there are two positive cases at the Tanda medical college. They have been kept in isolation. Five persons whose samples were taken yesterday have tested negative. Others who have returned from foreign countries, but are yet asymptomatic have been asked to self-quarantine for a period of 28 days,” said the Deputy Commissioner.

He said yesterday, officials got information about a woman who recently returned from Bangladesh. She tried to run away, but was later caught from Palampur. She had been sent to a quarantine facility.

In Jawali, the local administration has designated Government Degree College, Jaisinghpur, Government Polytechnic College, Talwar, government schools at Balakrupi, Jaisinghpur, Lower Lambagaon and Alampur as quarantine facilities.

The district administration will take strict measures against those found violating mandatory quarantine guidelines after returning from foreign countries. Those who hide their travel history and violate quarantine guidelines will be booked under Section 270 of the IPC.

Section 144 of the CrPC has already been implemented in the district.

At some places, the administration has pasted posters outside the houses of those in quarantine.

Two scientists of the CSIR Indian Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology who have recently returned from Southeast Asian countries have been directed to remain in self-quarantine for 28 days.