Foreign tourists banned to J&K?

Govt Tells HC: They’re Being ‘Appealed’ Not To Visit, Anyone Who Visits Shall Be Quarantined

Srinagar, March 20 (GNS): The administration has informed the J&K High Court that an appeal is being issued to all foreign tourists not to visit Jammu and Kashmir. “However, any foreign tourist visiting shall be quarantined,” Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department told High Court in a compliance report.

The report comes two days after government ordered a probe into the entry of four foreign tourists including two Italians, for jumping the “ban”.

The four tourists arrived on Wednesday were believed to have widely travelled across India, including national capital New Delhi, before reaching J&K.

On March 18, the government in a statement issued here said that the tourists were not aware of the “ban on entry of foreign tourists in J&K the government ordered late last night (on Tuesday).”

Meanwhile, among others the government informed the High Court the 100% quarantine shall be made for all visitors from the Union Territory of Ladakh. “It has also been decided to introduce and operationalized 100% checking of passengers at Banihal,” the Financial Commissioner said.

All educational institutions and Anganwari centres have been closed till March 31 in Jammu and Kashmir. “Orders for closure of Dhabas, Gyms, Restaurants, Workshops, Hotels at Patnitop etc. has been issued,” he said, adding “Entry of public in Civil Secretariat, Jammu and offices of Heads of Departments has been banned”.

The Financial Commissioner said that all the Deputy Commissioners have been directed to involve urban local bodies in fumigation of crowded places, offices and hospitals. “All the HODs of Health & Medical Education Department and Director, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar have been directed to ensure that all the arrangements are immediately made to ensure that the persons recommended for quarantine be stamped with indelible ink Stamp as per format enclosed and date of completion of quarantine mentioned with the help of separate stamp on the dorsum of right hand of the person to be quarantined.”

He said the administration has been decided to fumigate buses entering J&K at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda with l% hypocholorite solution.

“All the Deputy Commissioners have been directed to involve urban local bodies in fumigation of crowded places, offices and hospitals,” he added. (GNS)