We’re treated like ‘animals’ in quarantine facility in Baramulla, students say

BARAMULLA — A group of students from north Kashmir who are under quarantine at GMC Baramulla on Monday alleged that “they are being treated like animals.”

“There are virtually no facilities at GMC Baramulla. We are 30 students here and are being treated like animals,” the aggrieved students alleged.

Some students said over phone that they have been provided ‘poor accommodation’ and deprived of necessary facilities.

“They want us to stay for 14-days quarantine and at least we should be treated like humans and provided liveable facilities,” they added.

Iqbal (name changed), a student who returned from Chennai said: “I have been put at a girl’s hostel room at GMC Baramulla for quarantine along with many students. However, the facilities which are needed at this moment are lacking here.”

Another student who returned from Chandigarh said that they “feel unsafe and authorities should send us back to our homes as they don’t experience any symptoms of COVID-19 but the condition in which we are in here, there are chances of getting infected.”

He said they have been kept in shabby and untidy place where “even a normal person will fall sick.”

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr G.N Itoo said: “We are putting facilities in place and are trying our best to ensure all facilities. They should also realize that can’t have comfortable like homes.”