All returnees to be tested: J&K admn

JAMMU: All set for the return of J&K residents stranded across the country, UT principal secretary Rohit Kansal said on Monday that arrangements were in place and the special trains would start reaching Udhampur from Tuesday.

The inflow through trains was preceded by the regulated road transportation of the stranded persons via Lakhanpur and airlifting of Kashmiri students from Bangladesh.

Kansal told HT that each one arriving in Jammu and Kashmir is being tested for Covid-19. “Same procedure will be followed for those coming to Udhampur in trains,” he said.

Two trains from Bengaluru and Goa, which are already on their way to J&K, will reach Udhampur on Tuesday morning.

The UT administration has decided to allow arrival of only two trains in a day, keeping in view the handling capacity of the railway station and testing facilities at Udhampur.

“While adhering to social distancing guidelines, the passengers will be ferried in state road transport buses, which would be disinfected twice before and after each trip,” said Kansal.

Stating that a proper quarantine protocol had been put in place, Kansal said, “While some returnees will be sampled and tested in Udhampur, those hailing from Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Kishtwar, Doda and Kashmir division will be tested in their respective districts.” Kansal informed that the administration has made an app — transit management information system —wherein records of all passengers will be available.

“After deboarding the trains, details of the passengers will be uploaded in the app at the control room,” he said.

“Every single person entering the UT shall be tested for Covid-19 infection. This hasn’t been done by any other state or UT, but we are doing it to be doubly sure,” Kansal added.

District commissioner Piyush Singla said magistrates along with other staff members have been deployed to receive these passengers at the Udhampur railway station.

Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the first train that was scheduled to leave from Delhi to Jammu on May 12, will now depart on May 13.