CNTC asks HPC not to make hasty decision on resuming train services

Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) has cautioned High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19 against rushing to resume rail services as this would pose high risk of inviting a surge of Covid cases in Nagaland, if not properly analysed. 

It may be recalled that the state government had requested Railway authorities not to operate passenger trains at Dimapur with effect from May 6, in view of rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 positive cases.

CNTC raised the issue of Covid tests not being done on train passengers disembarking at neighbouring railway stations who then travel to Dimapur by vehicles or even walk on foot, thereby defeating the purpose of lockdown measures

It also pointed out that though relaxation of lockdown measures were welcome, a rethink and proper analysis on immediate resumption of rail services when lockdown had been imposed in neighbouring Assam should be carefully studied.

Though efforts of HPC and district task forces (DTFs) in bringing down the number of covid positive cases was appreciated, CNTC pointed out that delay in initiating lockdown measures and restricting rail services in Nagaland, when elections in Assam and West Bengal were on when the second wave of Covid-19 was raging and devastating the nation’s populace, was one major factor that led to many fatalities in Nagaland. 

As per the HPC’s nod for resumption of train services, CNTC wanted to know what appropriate steps were being taken for incoming travellers at the Dimapur railway station? It informed that as per reports, passengers were jumping off from trains before reaching the stations in order to avoid being tested or having to produce RT-PCR or TruNat tests for covid. CNTC said this posed a serious risk to people in Nagaland of which the HPC should be well aware of. 

It said even fake negative reports were widely being used by many, CNTC demanded that spot tests should be conducted on all incoming travellers and quarantine at government institutional quarantine centres made mandatory as no SOPs were maintained in home quarantines due to lack of basic facilities.

Stating that HPC would be also well aware that total lockdown has been re-imposed in seven districts of Assam due to surge in Covid positive cases, CNTC cautioned that any hasty decision by throwing caution to the winds in this regard, would be catastrophic since whatever was achieved would be lost.

CNTC also reminded that the lesson from the second wave of the Covid-19 should be a lesson against repeating the same mistake in taking hasty decisions and not following covid protocols since experts have predicted of an impending third wave

The Council also reminded that much as the responsibility lay with all the public, it was the decision and its implementation that determined the end result.