Situation normal in Hills, prepared for any eventuality, says dist admin

Darjeeling: Amid Coronavirus scare and with the advent of tourist season in the Hills, the district administration and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) on Wednesday declared that they are prepared to combat any eventuality.

Henceforth tourists visiting the Hills will have to fill up self-reporting forms in the facilities (hotels, homestays) where they will be staying. The district administration stated that there is no report of any Coronavirus positive patient in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

"The tourists will have to fill up self-reporting forms at the hotels and homestays in the Hills. The forms will require travel history along with clinical details (whether they are displaying symptoms of any disease). The forms will be screened by hotel management. In case of any suspicion, the forms will be handed over to the police. The police will then refer the case to the respective Government Hospital," said Amarnath K, Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling.

The Enforcement Branch is keeping a strict vigil at stores to ensure that there is no hoarding or price hike of masks and hand sanitisers. "We are also taking stringent action against persons spreading rumours. Till date we have blocked 15 such posts on social media," added the SP.

Screening camps have been put up at all access roads to Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills along with the Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri. "Till date, 350 foreign tourists have been screened. There are 37 border villages between India and Nepal along with 5 Indio-Nepal check posts. Around 5,855 persons have been screened. Isolation rooms have been set up in all major Government hospitals including Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Siliguri. Five suspected patients were admitted at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. Their samples were sent to Kolkata for tests. All have tested negative. There is no Coronavirus positive patient in Darjeeling and Kalimpong," said Surendra Gupta, Principal Secretary, GTA.

The district administration, police and GTA held meetings with stakeholders including hotel owners association; taxi owners association; taxi drivers association and NGOs on Wednesday.

"We will distribute 3,000 masks to taxi drivers in Kalimpong and 4,000 in Darjeeling absolutely free of cost," added Gupta.

He stated that the need of the hour is to sensitise people. "We have various self-help groups. We are mobilising and training these groups to go to the villages and sensitise the masses. Posters and pamphlets are being distributed. All of us have to come together to counter this menace" stated Anit Thapa, Chairman, GTA.