The government on Monday asked the health authorities to carry round-the-clock testing for travelers entering Kashmir through the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Lower Munda near Qazigund. The directions in this regard were passed by Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Anantnag Bashir Ahmad Wani. Greater Kashmir on Sunday carried a story that travelers entering Kashmir during nocturnal hours go untested. “ADDC Anantnag Monday visited the COVID testing center LowerMunda and took stock of its functioning. He directed the concerned officials to ensure smooth round-the-clock testing of travelers and truckers besides provision of all basic facilities at the center” an official handout issued here read. It said that he also directed the Police and Traffic authorities to take appropriate measures for the smooth movement of traffic near the site. “The ADDC inquired from the officials about the status and details of the COVID sampling being done there” the statement read It said that SDM DooruGhulamRasoolWani who is the Nodal Officer for this said center informed the ADDC that the center had 11 functional testing kiosks. “A total of 19000 Rapid Antigen Tests of the travelers and truckers have been done besides necessary augmentations are being taken to fully cater to the requirement” he informed the ADDC. BMO Qazigund officials of Police and other concerned departments were also present on the occasion. The testing facility at Lower Munda is on since April 9 following the spike in COVID cases in Kashmir however testing hours were from 8 am to 6 pm. All the passenger vehicles who used to arrive after 6 pm till 8 am passed through without getting tested at all. Several videos of non-local labourers and other tourists entering Kashmir in large numbers in passenger buses had gone viral on social media evoking criticism from the locals.

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