COVID travels

What times.. what uncertainty... what sham.... as if it was not enough already ! A highly complicated state of affairs made even more so, with the best part being that prima facie the finger points to not an individual or a group, but a not so visible entity - aka COVID19

So I have a few ongoing jobs in Srinagar and post opening of IMPOSED LOCKDOWN, I bookmarked a few J&K administration pages because every now and then a notification pops up issuing a new travel advisory/ new set of rules for travellers to the state. Not able to postpone, I fixed my travel for 4th August completely ignoring the first anniversary of Article 370 abrogation on 5th August.

So now a days, you take your boarding pass from home and get checked by CISF well behind a covered counter - no coming closer as if some ACCHHOOT. Then you are given a kit comprising of the shield, mask and sanitiser and off you go. Some wear mask and some don't, but in the aircraft you compulsorily have to. With all the action happening at border, more than half the passengers comprised of Army men going to join their units. I didn't see any business fraternity, nor any tourist while the remaining comprised of locals.

Kit

Reaching Srinagar, my first conclusion was - it is not the time to travel by air. If anyone takes COVID19 seriously, then airplane is THEEE place for infection to pass - take my word. There was no concept of the drummed up term "Social Distancing" - since the flight was full, no seat was left vacant and the entire plane occupied. Couple that with the shield and the mask and all the hysteria making rounds - I felt truly suffocated. Although the flight is just 50 minutes, but it's enough to get sick given the same air circulating again and again.

Pushing myself with a lot of effort, I got my COVID test done from Chandigarh - and man, was it invasive !! They put this swab so deep into your throat and both your nostrils - you feel violated. The Government notification stated that, if you carry a test report you would still be tested on arrival - however you will not be quarantined - but you'll have to provide your stay details just in case you have to be picked up later. Another test and I was herded to a tent filled with all the workers who had come to the state - no tourist whatsoever. Apart from not understanding the local language that the officials spoke, I found their behaviour to be rude - as if, why are you here ? No one was interested in the negative test report I was carrying - I still was stamped for HOME QUARANTINE and let go after noting my details. 

Quarantined

For a moment I thought I too would be forced into a bus, off to an institutional quarantine escorted by police. The sight of 5-6 buses leaving airport in a convoy escorted by police vehicles - left me ruffled. As if this was not enough, further down the city seemed more like a war zone; empty streets, closed shops, not a soul in sight but gun trotting servicemen at every nook and corner - I cursed myself for not having taken into account the dates. With effort, after crossing many check points, the taxi made way to the hotel. None to be found at its reception, I gave a call or two before Mr. Sajjad appeared. Not calming my nerves - he non chalantly mentioned that I am the only guest, to which I asked - is the kitchen open ? I was told I could get only Daal Chaawal. That would do. He never asked me if I was tested or quarantined or anything else; simply showed me to room.

The whole night I kept waiting for some gypsies to pop up, footsteps approaching and a knock on door to inform me that test result came otherwise. Kept changing sides, playing game on my phone until daybreak; not one knock. The next day (5th) - restrictions were even more severe; to the extent that taxi could not even reach me. While driver was trying alternate routes, I was entertaining alternate thoughts of extending my stay by a day - for clearly, I was not game for another round of Covid tests. Two hours later - a beaming Aslam Khan somehow arrived and addressed my concerns of reaching destination by INSHALLAH. 

Aslam Khan proved to be quite a crafty fellow - much to my aid I'd say. Since he had a pass of an Airport Taxi, while going away from the city centre he would cross the check point saying - SAHIB KO AIRPORT SE LAAYA HAI and when going back, say - SAHIB KO AIRPORT LE JAANA HAI. Three hours, four sites and the purpose of my Srinagar visit was complete. Next day, I flew back with a carton of fresh Kashmiri Apples - just to justify this ordeal.

To Conclude - It is not worth flying in these times. The regulations that are stated are not completely adhered to on ground - there is a scope of scuttling through by crafty ones; not me. Things have become more complicated, more surprises, more forms and more stupidity. More & more we are being regulated and told how to conduct - its not a good sign !