Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, May 15: Around 37 people who reached here from Uttrakhand have not been provided with the test results even after the passage of 5 days since their samples were taken by the Health officials in Budgam.
All these people were put in quarantine after reaching Kashmir on May 11. On the following day, their samples were taken for the tests, however, 4 days have passed, but their results are yet to be declared, though, they have been verbally told that they have tested negative for COVID-19.
One of the inmates from a quarantine facility in Khanpur Vidyalaya told Excelsior over the phone that they are being held for nothing, while the officials are taking their safety for granted.
“Our samples were taken on May 12, then on the following day, we were called out by names and taken to the bus, but before boarding the bus, we were told to stay back and since then we are here,” said Abdul Hamid.
He said that they are asking the officials to provide them with the certificate of having tested negative for the COVID-19, however, nothing seems to be coming their way.
“One of the official told us to give them one hour to get their results, but four days have passed since then; we have even seen cases here where people were sent home without results; they were told that their test reports will be sent home,” he said.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Budgam Tariq Ahmad Gania told Excelsior that he has to confirm about it from the concerned.
“The tests carried out on May 8 and 9 are yet to come as those samples were sent to be processed at a private lab, rest we are providing the tests on time; on this, I will have to check with the concerned,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Budgam, Dr Nazir Bhat, without agreeing on giving out details on the alleged mismanagement leading to chaos said that their test results will be given to them “very soon”.
The inmates said that without having tests in hand how could the officials call them out by putting their safety at risk. “Hand over the results and then follow whatever they will have to as per the rules, but at least, give us something,” the inmates said.
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