Thankful to you for extending support to visit few places: IMCT

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 25 APRIL 2020 | Darjeeling: The Inter-Ministerial Central Team camping in Siliguri has suggested stricter implementation of lockdown to avoid a further outbreak. 

Vineet Joshi, leader of the five-member team in a letter to the Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal stated: "The IMCT is thankful to you for extending support to visit a few places. The visit gave us some more idea about the ground situation. We are compiling the information and will get back to you with our detailed observation for further improvement in the public interest." 

The team suggested that a large number of field officers are required to monitor and provide feedback about various measures undertaken by the state government. 

The IMCT requested for additional data from the Divisional Commissioner, Jalpaiguri, District Magistrate, Darjeeling and CMOH, Darjeeling. They also sougth a meeting with the Police Commissioner of Siliguri. 

The team visited Kalimpong of Saturday escorted by the SSB. On the way, they visited the regulated market in Siliguri. In the regulated market, they inquired about the physical distancing, sanitisation and lockdown. 

The team reached Kalimpong at around noon. On reaching Kalimpong they visited the 10th Mile area and spoke to a few shopkeepers. From there the team arrived at the Containment Zone located at Municipal wards 11 and 12. 

Incidentally, this area has been earmarked as the epicentre of COVID-19 in Kalimpong. A 45-year-old lady had tested positive from this area after she had returned from Chennai. She was admitted at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital on March 26, and had breathed her last on March 30. 6 persons mainly family members and persons who had come in contact with her from Kalimpong had tested positive. 

The residence of the lady is located in this area. The area labelled as the containment zone along with a buffer zone of 3 km radius has been cordoned off. 

The IMCT arrived in the area and looked around. "We are finding it problematic as we do not know the area and are not accompanied by any local officers. The district administration allowed us to visit but stated that they would not be able to accompany us. They have however provided us with details of the number of quarantine centres and patients. They have shared the figures and statistics. 

The District Magistrate did not meet us as she is busy," said Brigadier Ajay Gangwar, Advisor (OPS) NDMA, a member of the team. 

The team departed for Siliguri from Kalimpong at around 1:20 in the afternoon. 

(Courtesy, source and link- Millenium Post- http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/thankful-to-you-for-extending-support-to-visit-few-places-imct-407868 )