Concern: Hundreds of non-locals skip screening on Sgr-Jammu highway

SRINAGAR — As administration has put all concentration at Srinagar International Airport to screen those coming from other parts of the world, hundreds of non-locals are skipping the process in broad day light while travelling through Srinagar-Jammu highway.

Reports reaching here said that hundreds of non-locals are reaching Kashmir on a daily basis without reporting to screening units established by the administration at several points over 270-km long highway.

According to reports, these non-locals often visit Valley with the onset of summer who remain engaged with the trade of begging and other little means for their livelihood.

Reports said, since last week, hundreds of non-locals have succeeded in reaching Valley amid Coronavirus scare. These people were ferried in trucks during darkness and reportedly had been dropped at Pantha-Chowk, Nowgam and other locations.

“These non-locals skipped screening centres meant for testing incoming people from outside parts in wake of COVID-19 pandemic which has taken away eleven thousand lives across the globe and infected millions so far,” reports said.

It added, “Bulk of non-locals is being transported into a single truck who does not report to screening centres established at several points on highway.”

Sources disclosed that these non-locals who look unhygienic, have already evaded from screening in their respective areas also. However, medical experts have expressed grave concern over the transit of non-local elements into the Valley amid current situation.

They said these people had already been on radar as hundreds among them have criminal and infected health history. They added such elements had also been found HIV positive in recent past but this time their entry without screening will be disastrous for people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang Pole on Saturday visited COVID-19 screening centre at Zig Qazigund and took stock of the situation. He directed DDC Anantnag Bashir Ahmad Dar, DDC Kulgam Showkat Aijaz Bhat, DDC Anantnag Khwaja Nazir Ahmad, ADC Anantnag Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, SSP Kulgam Gurinder Pal Singh, CMO’s of the twin district, DSP Traffic Qazigund and other senior officials of the administration to work in coordination for the successful and 100 percent screening of the passengers.

But despite administration’s eye on the current situation, there is no let up in skipping screening by non-locals who are taking alternate routes while reaching Valley.