KOLKATA: The South 24 Parganas administration, that is in charge of organizing the Gangasagar Mela, will first screen the double dose of all pilgrims heading to Sagar Island before conducting RT-PCR tests on those that are fully vaccinated.
For the thousands that have already reached Gangasagar, random RT-PCR is being carried out to prevent the spread of Covid.
Kolkata Police officers also carried out an inspection of the transit camp at Babughat in the city to chalk out a strategy on how the twin checks would be carried out before the pilgrims are allowed to proceed to Sagar Island. Sources said the challenge will be to turn back those who are not fully vaccinated. A majority of the 5 lakh pilgrims who are expected to attend Gangasagar this year will transit Kolkata.
South 24 Parganas district magistrate P Ulganathan said his team was duty-bound to comply with the order.
“We have identified nine buffer zones along Diamond Harbour Road in addition to the mega transit camp at Babughat. There will also be checks at the entry points to Sagar Island. While Rapid Antigen Tests were being conducted at these places, we will now conduct RT-PCR tests. Since the RT-PCR capacity is limited, we will first screen the pilgrims for the double vaccination certificate and turn down those who have not received the second jab,” said Ulganathan.
With the court identifying the state health secretary as the individual responsible for the vaccination checks, district officials expect a big team from the department to help conduct the screening and tests. A chief medical officer (health) will be in charge of the RT-PCR tests on pilgrims. A team of doctors has been engaged for seamless operation of the entire process.
A health official said all necessary requirements of South 24 Parganas district authority will be met and all assistance will be extended to comply with the HC order.
The DM said an awareness campaign was already afoot to make the pilgrims aware of the high court order. From tomorrow, the awareness on double vaccination screening will be carried out. “We will request all those who are not fully vaccinated to kindly go back home citing the extraordinary situation at present,” he said.
SDO Diamond Harbour, Sukanta Saha said the shift to RT-PCR tests from RAT at nine buffer points would begin on Wednesday. “Those who test positive will be sent to hospitals and safe homes according to the degree of illness,” he said. The buffer zones are at Kashinagar, Kakdwip, Namkhana Ramzannagar, Kanpur, Tulsichawk, Sarishabazar, Diamond Harbour Stadium More and Kulpi Bazar. Besides, screening and RT-PCR tests will be carried out extensively at Lot no. 8, Kachuberia, Chemaguri, Namkhana, Benuban, all entry points to Sagar.
In Diamond Harbour Medical College & Hospital, isolation wards with 184 beds have been earmarked for positive patients. In addition, there are 29 ICU and CCU beds allocated for Covid patients. At DH Stadium and Sagar, isolation centres with 100 beds each have been set up. At Kakdwip, another 80 bed isolation ward has been kept ready for Covid positive patients.
