Danger ahead when around 15 lakh stranded outside enters Assam after lockdown: Himanta

April 18: We have successfully broken the chain of the deadly coronavirus from social transmission. Assam now is in a comfortable situation so far as the first wave is concerned. This was said by State Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma during a press briefing at NHM office in Guwahati on Saturday evening.

Citing statistics, the minister, however, said that danger seems to loom large in the distant horizon for Assam when the lockdown will get over and the means of communication will be opened. He said that as of now, 4,32,383 miss calls were given in the Helpline by the residents of Assam stranded outside, Now, each one of these 4,32,383 persons have their families with them. So that means the total number of people stranded outside Assam will be anything around 15 lakh. The minister said that if all of them start coming back to Assam, then the state will be in real danger. If a proper policy of return is not made, then there will be many more fresh cases of coronavirus.

Dr. Sarma further said that the it will be a herculean task to check all such persons returning back to Assam by air, rail and road. To make accommodation for quarantine facilities for 15 lakh people is indeed a tough job. So a well thought policy needs to be devised to resolve this forthcoming crisis, once the lockdown gets over and airlines, trains and vehicles starts functioning once again. To save Assam from this 2nd wave is the greatest challenge ahead of the government.