Assam: 100 patients break out of COVID care centre; block highway over food, water

Rangia/Guwahati, Jul 17 (PTI) Around a hundred patients broke out of a COVID Care Centre in Assam's Kamrup district and blocked National Highway 31, alleging that y were t being provided with proper food and water, officials said.

Kamrup Deputy Commissioner Kailash Kartik along with police rushed to facility in Changsari on Thursday and asked patients to clear highway and return to centre so that matter could be resolved through discussions, y said.

Tension prevailed in area, however, after assurance patients returned to centre, an officer said.

patients alleged that y were t being provided with food and water and condition of beds was also t up to mark as 10-12 of m were being kept in a single room.

deputy commissioner assured m that ir allegations will be looked into and efforts made to address m, officer said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said if patients are t happy at COVID care facility, y can opt for home quarantine.

"We have brought m to facility so that y can be cured and y do t infect ors. If y are t happy re, y can sign undertaking and go under home quarantine," he said at a press conference.

health workers are on duty day and night and re may have been some delay as y are overburdened, he said.

"In or states, even testing is conducted on payment but in Assam, entire expenditure -- from testing to ir stay and food -- are borne by state government," Sarma added. PTI CORR DG SOM RHL RG AAR