COVID-19: Panic grips Budgam residents after scores of migrant labourers working in brick kilns test positive
Budgam, July 22 : Panic gripped residents of central Kashmir’s Budgam district after many migrant labourers working at different brick kilns in the district tested positive for COVID-19.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the migrant labourers who arrived in Kashmir valley did not undergo any administration quarantine as they were directly brought to brick kilns and started working there.
He said that at least 15,000 non-local labourers have entered Kashmir since July 14 with at least 113 of them testing positive for the virus in various districts of the valley.
Local residents from different areas of Budgam said that brick kilns are the latest hot spots for this infection and district administration is watching as mute spectators.
Chief medical officer Budgam, Dr. Tajamul Hussain Khan told KNO that at least 91 migrant labourers have tested positive for this virus since Monday. “71 labourers tested positive on Monday and 20 on Tuesday.”
Dr. Tajamul said that a brick kiln owner has to ensure the labourers working with them are following proper quarantine procedures once they arrive and have to follow the government SOPs.
Pertinently, divisional commissioner Kashmir, PK Pole on Tuesday said that the labourers will be tested in the respective districts of work and directed all the deputy commissioners of Kashmir to constitute three member teams and train them for smooth conduct of antigen testing of all labourers—(KNO)
