Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS/SD)
Bengaluru, May 13: Following complaints against the district administration of Dakshina Kannada that it did not make proper arrangements to receive the NRIs, who arrived from Dubai on the night of Tuesday, May 12 at the international airport here, the state government issued revised standard operating procedure (SOPs) for international returnees.
Earlier, during the day, two pregnant women who came in the flight on Tuesday night, had called up Daijiworld TV and narrated their ordeal on what they went through at the airport. The videos became viral and the authorities were compelled to take quick action.
Dubai passengers at Mangaluru airport on May 12
Soon, in a circular, the Health and Family Welfare Services department issued revised standard operating procedure (SOPs) for international returnees. It said, “All international passengers who are asymptomatic shall be stamped and be subjected to 14 days of institutional quarantine in COVID care centres.
“Further, to the above SOP, relaxation is being made for asymptomatic passengers. Immediately on passengers’ arrival which include pregnant women, children below the age of 10 years and below, senior citizens the age of 80 years and above and terminally ill patients (cancer, chronic kidney disease and stroke), they shall be tested using RT-PCR technique as early as possible and if the test is negative, they shall be exempted from institutional quarantine. Such passengers shall be stamped and sent for home quarantine for 14 days from the date of their arrival. All such passengers shall also be subjected to check up by a medical team (symptoms / temperature/oxygen saturation),” said the circular.
Earlier, the woman, who conveyed her ordeal to Daijiworld said, “I reached Mangaluru international airport at 10 pm on May 12. There were no issue from Dubai to airport. We expected that all arrangements will be made at Mangaluru International Airport to receive us. However, when we arrived to Mangaluru, there was no arrangement. I am seven and half months pregnant. I reached the airport at 10 pm but was sent to hotel at 2.10 am. We have waited for four hours. None of the departments in the airport were functioning in a proper manner.
“"As my husband is working in Dubai, I had to come alone. Our luggage had to be carried by us only. No one helped me even after noticing that I am pregnant. We were told that food will be provided free of cost. However, when I went to have meals they demanded money. I did not have cash with me. We knew through media that hostel and hotel arrangements are done for us at Mangaluru. There was only one hotel and no choices. The room rent in that hotel was Rs 1,000. There was no option of hotels with lesser tariff.
"There was KSRTC bus arrangement to go to the hotel. However, the bus was driven too fast because of which I suffered pain as I am pregnant. So I have come to Wenlock for check-up. As house members are not allowed with passengers I have come alone to the hospital. I have come with the ambulance personnel to the hospital. As I am pregnant I cannot move alone. Someone has to be there with me. This has to be brought to the notice of the concerned authorities,” she said.
Another pregnant woman who also arrived in the same flight with her husband who also had medical emergency, expressed her grievance to Daijiworld and exposed the failure of the district administration and concerned authorities.