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Srinagar, Mar 25: The authorities at Lakhanpur in Kathua district, Wednesday said that they have lodged around 1200 persons among them 600 Kashmiris, at specially designated quarantine centers.

“We have lodged around 1200 persons at marriage halls, lodges, hotels and other available accommodation in Lakhanpur and surroundings for 14-day mandatory quarantine, after their arrival at Lakhanpur to the Union Territory,” District Magistrate Kathua OP Bhagat told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) over phone.

The DC also said that 600 among them are from Kashmir, mostly students who were heading to their homes.

Bhagat however made it clear that no one among them is suspected for (COVID-19) and that they were only lodged for the mandatory 14 days quarantine

He said that the District administration and the police have made all arrangements for these people. “Students in the quarantine centers are deliberately creating panic and are demanding that they should be allowed to go home. But we have made it clear to them that they will not be allowed till their quarantine period will end,” the DC said.

Bhagat said that the administration was ready to give them all facilities so that they can easily complete their mandatory quarantine period.
He said that there was no letup of the people trying to reach their home towns from other states of country following curfews and lockdowns there. “We are expecting more people to come and accordingly the administration will put them under the mandatory quarantine. We cannot prevent them from entering Jammu and Kashmir, but yes once they will reach here they will be quarantined for mandatory 14 days,” the DC maintained.

He added that they were putting in place all arrangements for these people. “They and their families should not get panicked as the authorities were on job to give them best facilities. But yes they should cooperate with the administration.” he maintained.
The DC added that ill patients were being referred to the hospitals and that situation was well under control.

There have been clear guidelines by the UT Government that all those entering J&K from other States will have to undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine before being allowed to go homes.

“Almost all those returning to Jammu and Kashmir are students and employees of various companies which have been closed due to lockdown in the adjoining States.” sources said. (KINS)