Leh, April 23: Looking at the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the district, the Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson convened a meeting today with all the stakeholders, including health, para-military, police and district administration, at the Council Secretariat, Leh to review the current situation of rising COVID-19 cases in Leh district.

CMO Leh briefed the meeting on the current scenario and the steps taken by the health department in containing Covid positive cases in the district. He apprised the officials of the alarming situation of the surge in Covid positive cases, especially among non-local labourers inducted by the Border Road Organization in Leh. The district administration led by DC Leh conducted an inspection recently and found most quarantine facility centres in bad conditions. The Chairman LAHDC Leh discussed the grave matter with all concerned officials of BRO for implementation of immediate action on the issues.

CEC Gyalson directed concerned BRO officials to restrict the induction of non-local labourers for the time being until further notifications are out. He also impressed upon them to manage existing labourers by providing proper Covid testing facilities and basic requirements at their concerned quarantine centres.

Medical Superintendent of SNM Hospital Leh, Dr Nurzin, informed the officials that locals, especially those arriving from outside Leh, have tested positive in large numbers in recent times. She added that the new wave is infecting youth, especially the pediatric population in the region.

Taking note of the issues, CEC Gyalson and DC Leh, after consultation with the medical and the police department, decided to make it mandatory for local passengers arriving at Leh airport to undergo the RT-PCR test. The passengers would be in quarantine until their reports are out.

Since RT-PCR negative report is mandatory for tourists travelling to Leh, the officials decided to monitor negative RT-PCR reports at all the entry points. They decided to deport offenders immediately from the entry points and register FIR against those furnishing fake RT-PCR reports. CEC Gyalson directed concerned officials to ensure strict adherence to Covid protocols at the airport and the facility quarantine centres.

CMO Leh and MS SNM apprised the Chairman, LAHDC Leh, of the status of bed capacity at SNM Hospital, the supply of oxygen at the hospitals, Covid Care Centres at all blocks and Quarantine facilities and the enforcement of village-level surveillance teams in all the villages. CEC Gyalson assured to assist in fulfilling all the requirements with utmost priority and ensured to take up a few concerns with the higher authorities. 

DC/CEO LAHDC Leh, Shrikant Suse; CMO Leh, Dr Motup Dorje; MS SNM Leh, Dr Nurzin Angmo; ASP Leh, Tashi Phuntsog; Dy SP, Regzin Sangdup; Adm Commandant, HQ 14 Corps, Col Saurabh Pandey; Commandant 16 BTRF, Project Vijayak, DN Dahat; OC 81 RCC, B Kishan; SO II Chief Engineer Leh, Project Himank, Major P Rajesh; SMO HQ 753, Dr Hemant Kumar;  Assistant Labour Commissioner Leh, Ghulam Nabi Tak; I/C DSE PWD Leh, Nisar Ahmed, Tehsildar Leh, Attah-Ullah and SDM Kharu, AG Zargar attended the meeting. SDM Khaltsi, Durbuk, Nyoma and Nubra joined the meeting virtually.