Bihar CM to PM Modi: Extend lockdown, need Centre's help for more testing centers

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has expressed his concern to PM Modi stating that Bihar may become one of worst COVID-19 affected state if t checked strictly and in a planned way. During a video conferencing meeting of Prime Minister with Chief Ministers of states, Nitish Kumar advocated extension of lockdown till 31st May.

With 150 migrant labourers who arrived in Bihar last week tested positive for Coronavirus, Nitish Kumar also sought Centre's help to enhance testing centres. Sources said that during course of meeting Nitish Kumar raised following issues:

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1. Coronavirus in Bihar reached through people who came to state from outside.

2. Bihar may become one of worst affected states if t checked strictly in a planned way.

3.Short of ventilator and testing capacity t being sufficient in Bihar. Since migrants are coming back to Bihar in large numbers, test centres are needed in every district of Bihar. More than 10 lakh migrants are expected.  state governments wants to improve this with support of central govt. 

4. Number of Shramik trains must be increased so that maximum migrant labours can reach Bihar as soon as possible in next 7 days. 

5. Passenger train services should t start till end of this month.

6. Lockdown must continue till 31st of May

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So far, 150 Shramik special trains have ferried more than 1.5 lakh migrants from different parts of country. Out of se, 150 migrants have tested positive who came back to Bihar in last one week on Shramik special trains. Majority of migrant labours who tested positive were asymptomatic which is even more dangerous. So far, 743 people have tested Corona positive in Bihar. 350 people have recovered and 5 deaths have been reported. Most of migrants who tested positive have arrived from Red Zones of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Andhra.

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Bihar expects at least 10 lakh migrants to come back to state. Bihar govt has made 3500 quarantine centres in blocks.  
Bihar CM has already anunced that train fare and a daily allowance of minimum Rs 1000 would be reimbursed to every migrant.

But with this migrant population returning back in large number to ir vills, fear of spreading pandemic to community level has grown stronger and both PM Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar have expressed ir concern.

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