Rules in her favour, Rourkela woman still unable to travel for surgery

Rourkela: An elderly cancer patient from Rourkela, who was scheduled to go for surgery at a Kolkata hospital, has been unable to travel even though the lockdown rules allow people with emergency medical needs to travel from one state to another.

Kitabun Nisha, a 65-year-old resident of Diesel Colony, Bondamunda, suffered from severe pain in her abdomen in the first week of March and was advised to go for surgery in Kolkata, latest by April. Her son, Md. Asgar Husain, 35, tried to get a pass for three people — the lady and two attendants — from the Rourkela SP’s office but to no avail.

“We contacted the district information bureau office and Rourkela Police for the pass,” said Husain, adding, “We learnt from them that only permission for inter-district travel on medical grounds is being granted.”

As per the order of the state government’s disaster management department dated April 17, interstate movement of individuals is prohibited except for medical reasons. This suggests that people can move to other states for emergency medical needs.

The family, which is in constant touch with the SP’s office, says it is unable to understand the formalities needed for a pass. Husain’s plight was confirmed by the district authorities. “We are giving permission only for inter-district movement. We have no idea about the formalities for interstate movement in medical cases,” said L Buda, DSP of district information bureau, Rourkela.


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