Morung Express News
Kohima | May 18
Two buses carrying 50 stranded people from Arunachal Pradesh were made to wait for almost an hour at Khouchiezie (local ground) before being directed to their designated quarantine centre.
Speaking to The Morung Express, a student who was among the passengers said the buses moved out from Dimapur at around 1:00 am and reached Khouchiezie, Kohima, at around 3:45 am. “But there was no one around and we were wondering what we were even doing here,” she said.
She said the drivers did not know where to take them and there were no directions or information given to them as to where to take the passengers. “We were waiting for the officials or somebody to take us to the quarantine centre,” the passenger said.
As they continue to wait impatiently, she said, some people came and told the drivers to take them to the K. Badze quarantine centre. They reached the centre at 6:30 am.
When contacted ADC Kohima, Lithrongla Rutsa viewed that perhaps, the drivers were not aware of the locations (quarantine centres) and came to local ground. However, she said, the officials were directed to lead the buses to the quarantine centre.
No safety protocols at K Badze quarantine centre
Claiming that no safety protocols being followed at K Badze quarantine centre, a woman contacted this newspaper expressing grave concern over the safety of those quarantined in the centre.
The woman, whose brother and cousin sister from Guwahati are in quarantine at K Badze informed that the people in the quarantine centre were screened only on May 18, after they were screened at Nagaland House, Guwahati, before they moved out for Nagaland on May 15.
Some of the concerns, which she based on her interaction with family members in quarantine, were that as many as four people are sharing the same toilet while food and water is being served in the common areas with no social distancing or hygienic practices. In addition to these, she also said that those in the centre are moving about freely visiting each other’s room without anyone monitoring or reminding the people on the safety protocols.
She claimed that apart from the announcements being made for breakfast, lunch and dinner through loudspeakers, there are no officials present at the centre to address their grievances.
As per the earlier SOP for returnees, she said that her cousin’s three days quarantine period got over today. However, she was neither released nor informed on whether she is supposed to stay back or go home, she added.
Besides the absence of safety protocols, she claimed that sufficient food is not being provided as the food runs out before those who are last in line could eat. There was a day with no water to even wash their hands and it was only in the evening that water tanks were filled up, claimed the woman.
These problems, she maintained, is creating mental stress to those in the centres as well as the family members at home who are worried about the mental state of those in quarantine.
She asserted that unless the government takes corrective measures at the earliest, there is no point in keeping people in the quarantine centres.
