Locals demand 'permit from ID Hospital' to allow people returning from other states into their homes

Pritesh Basu

Kolkata: Being conscious about the risk of spreading of COVID-19, local people in various parts of the state are allowing neighbours returning from other states to enter the locality only against production of written document from Beliaghata ID Hospital, stating that the person doesn't need to undergo "corona test".

Basudeb Talukdar reached Howrah Station from Mumbai by Howrah-Mumbai Mail at 11.45 am on Sunday. He was found moving around aimlessly and quite often speaking to his wife over phone. Talukdar said: "My wife was told by a section of local people that I will be allowed to enter the area only against production of written document from Beliaghata ID Hospital stating no need for corona test".

Talukdar, who works in a restaurant at Mumbai's Goregaon, took a train from Mumbai on Friday evening to return home in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. He said that he underwent thermal screening before leaving Howrah Station.

"Now I am confused what to do next as some are saying that one should visit the hospital only if he/she has any symptoms like cold and cough. But at present I am fit," said Talukdar.

Being confused, he contacted the control room at Nabanna. He was advised to take necessary precautionary measures and to take help of the local police if not allowed to enter his house despite taking the measures.

When contacted later, Talukdar said that he went to Beliaghata ID Hospital before heading for his home at Madhyamgram's Saradha Palli in North 24-Parganas and standing in a long queue for a checkup by doctors there.

"I will follow all precautions including staying in self isolation for 14 days as advised in such a scenario. But my only request would be to let me reach my home if the hospital doesn't find any symptom of the disease in me," he said.

A senior state government official said: "Fourteen day self isolation is a must for people who have returned from other states. At the same time, people are requested to take precautionary measures and not to panic. Administration will extend necessary support if anyone is facing any problem."

A large number of people, who returned from Mumbai on the same train, were found waiting at the bus stand outside Howrah Station to reach to their destinations on the day of 'janata curfew'.

Most of them were found avoiding disclosure of their whereabouts. A group of eight people also returned to Bengal in Howrah-Mumbai Mail that reached Howrah Station at 8 am on Sunday. They were found taking barely any precautionary measures.

One of them, Birbal Roy, said that they work in a dosa outlet at Kandivali and are returning to their homes at Dhupguri in Alipurduar district.