Inquiry must be initiated

A disturbing report has surfaced amid the resurgence in COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir. The report suggests that an entire lot of RT PCR test samples went mysteriously missing from one of Srinagar’s health centres, sending the people with COVID symptoms along with their families into tizzy. The occurrence has not only left the people worried, but has also put a question mark over the functioning of the health institutions in the Union Territory amid the prevalent situation. Reports said the Lot No 102 of RT PCR test samples conducted on April 17, 2021 went missing from the lab records and the people from whom the samples were collected were left high and dry with no information about whether they have been positive or negative during the entire process. One fails to understand what kind of seriousness has been displayed by the health workers at the lab here in Lal Bazar. The non-serious attitude can seriously put the people in distress. The million dollar question remains why the lab officials failed to confirm the incident to the people whose samples have been collected under the ‘missing’ lot. They should have been at least informed on time to ensure that the samples are collected again and the people close to them are not put in danger amid the spike in the cases, which has forced the administration to take a series of preventive measures again. There is a need to pass strict directions in this regard to ensure that the samples collected would get an apt care till the results are informed to the people. Besides, the government must initiate an action against the concerned officials to verify the incident and also take action against the non-serious attitude of the hospital authorities, which led to mysterious missing of entire lot of RT PCR test samples.