The state government may have announced Maharashtra to be safe for travel, but people are refraining from coming to the state after the first swine flu death was reported in Pune.
The state government may have announced Maharashtra to be safe for travel, but people are refraining from coming to the state after the first swine flu death was reported in Pune.
Tour operators claim that people from not only outside Maharashtra but Mumbaikars too have become apprehensive about travelling to even close to Pune. “We cannot call it a major impact but the number of people travelling to Pune has reduced in the last two-three days. Although the rush over the weekend has remained the same, travelling on week days has gone down,” says Mohsin Khan, who works for Neeta
Travels. “Of the regular 45-seater Volvo bus, 8-10 seats are going empty,” he said.
“The number of people travelling from Mumbai to Pune has been affected, but not those travelling from Pune to Mumbai,” said Tanay Thakur, who works as a booking clerk with Prasanna Travels “Since the past two days, we have some passengers travelling with masks, which they remove on reaching Mumbai.” Another tour operator said, “It is difficult to say whether travelling has reduced because of swine flu as this period is considered to be a dull one.”
The railways claim that there has been no difference in the number of passengers travelling by train. When asked whether care would be taken to ensure that swine flu patients do not come to Mumbai, SC Mudgerikar, chief PRO of central railway, said, “The state government, if required, will issue an advisory to check on-board passengers. If the government asks, we will provide the necessary assistance.”
He said that the number of passengers has not reduced on these trains as CR continues to carry approximately 1,000 passengers per trip, per train. Even the air traffic control said that there have been no flight cancellations or reduction in the number of flights.
In the meanwhile, the directorate general of health services under the ministry of health and family welfare has come out with pandemic preparedness and response for managing novel influenza A-H1N1, earlier called swine flu. Under this action plan, it has suggested various precautionary measures to various ministries, including the railways.
The plan states that the railways must train doctors in their hospitals on pandemic preparedness and response, extend hospital services to civilians and ensure transportation of medical supplies.
With inputs from Naveeta Singh
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}