Dhanbad: Trade Union leaders and workers of Sindri’s fertilizer factory - Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited (HURL) staged a lockout at the factory’s main gate today. The workers have been protesting against the lack of safety measures after the unfortunate accident that injured two technicians yesterday.

The lockout was staged under the banner of Left affiliated trade union - Central Industrial Trade Union (CITU) during which former Nirsa MLA, Arup Chatterjee, demanded for a regular job for the injured persons. They have also asked the company to bear the expense for the medical treatment of those injured.

General Manager of HURL Sindri, Kameshwar Jha, said, “A meeting between the protestors and HURL management was held at Sindri police station. We have agreed to provide treatment costs till those injured recover. During this period, we will also be paying their salary.”

“If any of them get disabled then one of their dependents will be provided with a job,”said Jha.

The agitators, however, are demanding for a written assurance and not a verbal one.

Praduman Choubey

Mock drill for Covid treatment conducted in 56 Bokaro hospitals

Mock drill in progress at a Bokaro hospital. Gautam Dey

Dhanbad: Surge in COVID-19 infections is making Bokaro healthcare providers better their facilities to tackle health emergencies.

On Tuesday, as per the instructions of Kuldeep Chaudhary, Bokaro Deputy Commissioner, mock drills were organized simultaneously across all the 56 government and private hospitals of the district.

During the drill the entire procedure of bringing a Covid infected patient to the hospital through ambulance, admitting him/her to the Covid ward and starting his/her treatment under the supervision of doctors was performed. The entire sequence was as per the state government’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of Covid.

Chaudhary digitally monitored the entire mock drill. Sadat Anwar, Additional Collector of Bokaro, the nodal officer, coordinated the entire drill under the supervision of altogether 56 Magistrates.

Chaudhary said, “Today's mock drills were conducted simultaneously at the Community Health Center level government and private hospitals of the district keeping in view the rising infection rate of Covid. The aim was to take stock of the hospital’s preparation to tackle health emergencies,”said Chaudhary.

Talking about the booster dose, he said, “Booster dose is administered at all vaccination centers to eligible persons.”

Praduman Choubey