Central team still indoors at SSB camp in Siliguri

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 21 April 2020 | Darjeeling: The Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) from Delhi to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in three districts of North Bengal, remained indoors at the SSB camp on Tuesday. 

The 5 member IMCT had arrived on Monday noon at the Bagdogra Airport and had gone to the SSB Camp at Ranidanga in Siliguri. They remained in the camp and did not come out on Tuesday also. 

Sources stated that they have spoken to a number of persons over the phone on Tuesday. Unconfirmed sources further stated that the IMCT could divide into two groups. A two member group could visit the Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts on Wednesday, while the other group could visit areas of Siliguri and Jalpaiguri. 

On April 18 the Joint Secretary, Health, declared that there has not been a single COVID-19 case in Kalimpong for the past 14 days. 

"It is perplexing and demotivating for the GTA and the general public to see the sudden declaration that the situation is grave in Darjeeling and Kalimpong by the Home Ministry of the Central government, a day after declaring that there is no COVID-19 case in Kalimpong. The Health Ministry and the Home Ministry of the Union government are contradicting each other. Which department of the Central government should we believe?" questioned Anit Thapa, chairman, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. 

Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha in a press conference in Kolkata stated that whatever information and date the IMCT had asked for, were provided. 

Meanwhile, the report of the person from Alipurduar who had died on Sunday night was found COVID-19 negative. 20 policemen were injured and four police vehicles had been vandalised and torched when policemen had tried to bury him at Pradhanpara. 

At present, there are 7 persons admitted at Desun Hospital which is the COVID-19 screening hospital, with 4 at Dr. Chang's Nursing Home which is the COVID-19 Hospital, 1 person in the Isolation ward and 1 person in the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit. 

Not leaving anything to chance, containment and buffer zones have been earmarked in Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts bordering Siliguri. 

Areas under ward number 41 including Jyotinagar, Kawakhali and ward number 47 of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation have been cordoned off with guard rails. Entry and exit to and from these areas is being strictly monitored. 

(Courtesy, source and link - Millenium Post http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/central-team-still-indoors-at-ssb-camp-in-siliguri-407658)