Dimapur DC, Anoop Khinchi IAS; Dimapur In Charge for COVID related activities, Kikheto Sema IAS; and Dimapur Commissioner of Police, Rothihu Tetseo IPS inspecting the Dimapur Railway Station on May 21. (Morung Photo)
- Chennai returnees to be quarantined for few days in Dmp & Khm
- Another train from Gurugram to arrive in Dimapur on May 24
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 21
Superseding all previous directives, the Nagaland Government has issued fresh orders to quarantine returnees from Chennai arriving through a special train for a “few days” in Kohima and Dimapur.
A late night update from the DIPR estimated that a total of 1,477 Nagaland citizens are expected to arrive in Dimapur on May 22 at 1:05 pm.
Dimapur will quarantine those returnees belonging to Peren and Mon districts besides Dimapur district, while Kohima will quarantine those returnees whose destinations are Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng, Tuensang, Kiphire, Phek and Zunheboto for a “few days of observation and screening.”
A letter issued by the Convenor, Empowered Group, Sentiyanger Imchen stated that the returnees would be sent to their respective districts after ascertaining the schedule of the next special train.
Speaking to The Morung Express, Kikheto Sema, overall incharge of Dimapur district for COVID-19 activities however said that since another train from Gurugram (Gurgaon)was tentatively scheduled to arrive in Dimapur on May 24, and with limited accommodation facility in Dimapur, the returnees from Chennai have to be evacuated before the next batch arrives.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, officials including Dimapur incharge for COVID-19 related activities, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS, APC; DC Dimapur; Commissioner of Police, Dimapur and CMO, Dimapur visited the Dimapur railway station to oversee preparations.
Kikheto informed that more than 10 counters have been set up at the station to facilitate the registration and medical examination processes. He also added that around 40-50 buses have been arranged to transport the returnees to their respective designated centres.
He said that although the district authorities were arranging logistics as per earlier decision to send all Chennai returnees to their respective districts, the latest government directive to quarantine them for few days will be managed as far as possible.
He informed that 73% of the Chennai returnees will be quarantined in Dimapur while 27% in Kohima.
Challenging times
When asked about his experience as the district incharge for COVID-19, the senior bureaucrat said, “It is quite challenging and an amazing experience.”
Prior to the arrival of returnees, the officials were mostly spreading awareness, sealing borders and regulating essential commodities. But with the returnees, the Dimapur team has been working 24x7 receiving them by road, rail, and then transporting them.
“Those arriving do not belong only to Nagaland but Manipur and Assam as well and they come at different times, so our team has to receive them as and when they arrive,” he added.
He said some of the returnees who arrived Thursday at 2:00 am had to wait for some time to enter their designated quarantine centre since the gate was locked for security. “But the matter went viral in social media. Yes, it is the responsibility of the government to facilitate the returnees but the public should also understand that they are our own brothers and sisters and more importantly they may also understand that we are trying our best,” he added. He meanwhile said that the accommodation arranged in Dimapur would not be able to accommodate all persons belonging to other districts since the Dimapur-based returnees alone accounts to 50% of the total expected returnees.
“However, as per direction from the government we will try to manage accommodating them,” he said adding that it was a time for each district to shoulder its own responsibility.
He further conceded that many centers might not fulfill the criteria to be used as quarantine centers, however, owing to lack of proper infrastructure, even those falling short of established norms had to be requisitioned.
“Almost all of them who are arriving tomorrow are from red zone but irrespective of which zones they come from, they are our own people, they have suffered enough and we are ready to receive them even though facilities might be limited,” he added.
Kikheto also informed that lunch for the Chennai returnees would be arranged by Deputy Chief Minister, Y. Patton.
District wise passenger list
District Number of returnees (Anticipated)
Dimapur 569
Kohima 72
Wokha 35
Mokokchung 22
Zunheboto 14
Longleng 16
Phek 39
Tuensang 164
Kiphire 40
Mon 147
Peren 359
Total 1477
