COVID-19: BSL-3 lab equipment reaches Nagaland

The C-17 Globemaster III, the biggest Transport aircraft in Indian Air Force on April 16 brought 18 tons of medical equipment for Nagaland Government. "The plane landed at 9:15 AM. The aircraft delivered the COVID Lab. It was planned to arrive from Mumbai yesterday but canceled due bad weather and instead went to Hindon Airport (in Uttar Pradesh). Today it came from Hindon," Dimapur Airport Director informed The Morung Express.

 

•  First consignment for lab at NHAK

• CM assures round the clock work to make lab functional soon

 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 16

 

The first consignment of equipment required to set up a Bio Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory in Nagaland arrived today by a special flight arranged by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

 

The DIPR informed that the cargo contained 18 tons of sophisticated equipment needed to set up the laboratory at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima. The cargo sent was sent from Mumbai and was transported in an IAF Globemaster cargo aircraft with the intervention of Nagaland Governor, RN Ravi with Defence Minister,Rajnath Singh.

 

Along with the equipment, a technical team to set up the lab also arrived at Dimapur airport.

 

The C-17 Globemaster III, IAF’s biggest transport aircraft was scheduled to reach with the equipment on April 15 was delayed due to bad weather in the North East region on Wednesday.

 

"The plane landed at 9:15 AM. The aircraft delivered the COVID Lab. It was planned to arrive from Mumbai yesterday but canceled due bad weather and instead went to Hindon Airport (in Uttar Pradesh). Today it came from Hindon," Dimapur Airport Director informed The Morung Express.

 

“Considering the urgency of the lab needed by the Naga public, efforts were taken by IAF to use Bangladesh air space through diplomatic channels but with bad weather moving east it was cancelled and it finally arrived on April 16,” the DIPR further informed.

 

The next consignment for the BSL lab at Dimapur is expected to arrive very soon, which will also be tasked and airlifted by special IAF aircrafts, it added.

 

Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio thanked the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Delhi for all the necessary clearance needed. He further assured that all efforts with around the clock task would be carried out so that the lab is functional at the earliest.

 

“The State Government inspite of lock down measures all over the country creating multiple limitations,is making all efforts that necessary items needed by the State and public is catered with focused dedicated approach by all concerned department officials and agencies,” the CM said.

 

He added that at this juncture, joint collective effort, coordination,focused approach and mutual trust of all would be the key result area to mitigate and overcome the pandemic.

The State Government also lauded the IAF, the Ministry of Defence, and the Government of India for its continued efforts,support and cooperation to fight against theCOVID-19 pandemic, “considering the inherent problem of terrain, infrastructure and connectivity issues faced by the Naga people.”

 

In the past 15 days, the IAF has flown 6 dedicated missions carrying almost 40 tons of essential items to the State.