Published on May 16, 2020
by Preetam Brahma Choudhury
Kokrajhar: The conscious citizens, students and social organisations have expressed serious concern over the decision to set up Kokrajhar as COVID19 zonal centre for Lower Assam districts and appealed the state government to reconsider the decision.
A delegation from various students and social organizations of Kokrajhar district like the All Bodo Students Union, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, All Bodo Women Welfare Federation, All Bodoland Minority Student Union (ABMSU), All Rabha Student Union, Garo Student Union, Scheduled Caste Student Union, All Assam Bengali Youth Student Federation and All BTC Nath Yogi Student Union Friday met the Deputy commissioner of Kokrajhar District Bhaksar Phukan on the issues.
A memorandum was submitted to the Assam Finance, Health and Education Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma through the Deputy Commissioner urging the government of Assam to reconsider the decision and shelter only the people from the district at the Quarantine Centres in Kokrajhar.
As Kokrajhar is zonal centre, people from various Lower Assam districts ofChirang, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Barpeta apart from Kokrajhar who were stranded out of the state have already started arriving in the district and are housed at various quarantine centres.
According to official sources total 19 quarantine centres has been established in various part of Kokrajhar district for the people coming from other States of India to stay put in confinement. Various school, colleges, including the Bodoland University, Central Institute of Technology(CIT). Bineswar Brahma Engineering College, Kendriya Vidyalaya, SAI Complex were turned into quarantine centres. Besides many hotel in Kokrajhar town were also were turned into quarantine centres. Besides many hotel in Kokrajhar town were also turned into paid quarantine centres.
Meanwhile 73 more passengers arrive at Kokrajhar railway station by Chennai- Guwahati Sramik Special train today.
This is fourth train and second Shramik special train carrying people stranded in various parts of the country to reached Assam in the last three day.
All the passengers were taken to the quarantine facilities after initial screening and thermal temperature testing and the baggage sanitized.
So far 176 people have arrived by the Special train in Kokrajhar and are now kept in various quarantine centres in the district. A total 29 passengers travelling by New Delhi-Dibrugarh special train de-boarded at Kokrajhar railway station on Wednesday. On Thursday 46 passengers from various Lower Assam districts get down at Kokrajhar by New Delhi-Dibrugarh special train followed by another 28 passengers de-boarded the Shramik Special train from Chennai to Bhairabi.
The passengers are from various Lower Assam districts of Chirang, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Barpeta apart from Kokrajhar.
The state government had requested the Union Ministry of Railways to arrange 12 trains, including the seven from Delhi, to repatriate people to the state, who were stranded across the country, including south and west India.