Govt tracking 38k who came via land ports before ban

NEW DELHI: Officials are keeping an eye on all 38,572 Indians who arrived in the country through Integrated Check Points (ICPs) at nine border crossing points before cargo and passenger movement was suspended on March 16 in the wake of coronavirus threat.
The Indians — mostly traders and tourists — had entered via ICPs on borders with Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh between March 1 and March 15.None showed any symptoms during the time of screening, according to records of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) which manages the nine ICPs.
“We followed all instructions. Screening was conducted, self-declaration forms were given and suspected cases were put in quarantine. We have records of passports, addresses and phone numbers of everyone. In case anyone develops symptoms, we will trace their travel history and inform those who travelled with them,” LPAI chief Aditya Mishra told TOI.
According to the World Health Organisation, the collective number of positive cases in Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh has touched 900.
LPAI officials said all nine ICPs have been sealed but exceptions can be made in case someone is stranded.
At 21,592, the highest number of Indians entered via the ICP at Petrapole in Bangladesh, followed by 6,109 Indians through Dera Baba Nanak ICP check post that leads to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, while 3,952 arrived from Bangladesh via another ICP at Agartala in Tripura.
Health inspections have also been intensified at routine immigration posts run by border states and the immigration bureau which are still open for entry of Indians. These include those on the border with Bangladesh, Daranga on the Bhutanese border, Zokhawthar on the Myanmar border and Kawrpuichhuah on the Bangladesh border in Mizoram.