300 Passengers Flee Airport On Arrival; Know Why

Silchar: Around 300 passengers who had landed at Silchar fled the airport without getting the mandatory COVID-19 test done.

The Assam government has made it mandatory for anyone arriving in the state to undergo Rapid Antigen Test or RT-PCR test.

According to Cachar district Additional Deputy Commissioner Sumit Sattawan, 690 passengers arrived at Silchar airport on Wednesday in six flights from different parts of the country.

They were supposed to undergo swab tests at the airport and the nearby Tikol Model Hospital, PTI reported.

“But around 300 people created chaos at both places, mainly over payment of Rs 500 for the tests,” Sattawan said.

Criminal action will be initiated against all of them.

“We have their database and will track them. We will initiate criminal action under Section 188 of the IPC (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and other relevant provisions,” the Additional DC said.

Of the 189 passengers who were tested, six were found to be infected with coronavirus. They will be in 14-day quarantine.

Others who test negative will have to undergo seven days of home quarantine.

Assam has so far recorded 229,138 COVID-positive cases of whom 1,150 passed away.