Migrant workers quarantined at facilities in the Chas and Chandankyari blocks of Chas subdivision are facing issues relating to electricity and water, inspections by teams led by Chas SDO Shashi Prakash Singh on Sunday found.

The five teams covered 61 district quarantine centres. Their reports were later presented to deputy collector, Bokaro, Mukesh Kumar who reviewed them and gave necessary directions.

Chas has witnessed the arrival of 7,550 migrant workers since February 15. More are coming in, keeping the administration on its toes.

Those coming from red zones are being kept in district quarantine centres in their areas. So far, 851 people have been kept in district quarantine, including 562 in Chas and 289 in Chandankyari blocks.

Subdivisional officer Singh said the administration was conducting health checkups on all those at district quarantine centres to ascertain whether they were suffering from any other disease. Those with other ailments are being provided with treatment.

“Additionally, our teams are distributing Vitamin C as per guidelines among the migrant workers,” said the SDO. He added that in the course of inspection, they reviewed the arrangements of electricity, water and food at the quarantine centres. Problems faced by the migrant labourers were also addressed.

The migrant labourers told Singh that they were mostly facing problems of power cuts and water. Most quarantine centres based in schools didn’t have generators.

The SDO also instructed local block officers to provide television and newspapers for the entertainment of migrant labourers at all centres.

The team included circle officer, Chandankyari, Manoj Kumar; block development officer Vedwanti Kumari; in charge of the community health centre Dr Srinath, and other staff.

Deputy commissioner Mukesh Kumar on Sunday constituted a district-level cell to ensure the availability of basic facilities at the quarantine facilities. Senior officers -- starting from executive magistrate to the DDC and additional collector -- have been deputed by the DC to strengthen vigil at each of the 259 quarantine centres across the district.

Mukesh Kumar said: “The cell will improve inspection and monitoring of quarantine centres in each of the blocks. It will also keep records of people entering or leaving the quarantine centre with their names, skills and cell phone numbers.”

Thousands of migrant workers are returning to the district using road, rail and other modes of transport. Since February 15, more than 17,500 migrants have arrived in Bokaro. Of them, more than 9,500 persons have been kept in home quarantine while those coming from red zones are in district quarantine. A majority of them are migrant workers.