Isolation ward set up at Dimapur Railway Station
The isolation ward set up at the Dimapur Railway Station. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 12
In the wake of the spread of the COVID-19, also known as the new or novel corona virus, worldwide, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has also started taking preventive measures. The NFR issued a press release on March 12 informing that it has taken all possible measures to tackle the spread of the virus through the railways.
On March 12, The Morung Express followed up with officials at the Dimapur Railway Station about the measures taken in Nagaland’s only rail station.
According to the railway officials in Dimapur, an isolation ward has been set up at the Dimapur Health Unit, NFR, which is attached to the station. One official said that it will serve as a transitory quarantine for passengers, who report with symptoms before being referred to the Dimapur district heath authority.
“If anyone has any problem (symptoms) or anyone coming from any of the affected countries and regions should contact the Station Superintendent, who will take the appropriate steps to forward the case to the Chief Medical Office, Dimapur,” said the official.
He reiterated that it will only be a temporary stopover before the district health authority takes over.
The official though admitted that it would be practically impossible to track the origin of passengers given the nature of rail travel in India unless the passengers themselves come forward. “We are not like the airlines. At this stage, the best we can do is spread awareness. I would advise the railway staff as well as the passengers and others to protect themselves by adopting personal hygiene measures like using masks and sanitisers. The staff, in particular are exposed to different people everyday.”
As announced by the NFR, he said that the railway officials in Dimapur have started awareness campaign in the form of making regular informative announcements through the Public Address system, issuing multi-lingual flyers to passengers and pasting posters containing preventive messages about the virus.
