New Delhi: A private laboratory is under investigation after a number of travellers who arrived in Amritsar from Italy tested positive for COVID-19. Some of the passengers had claimed that their test results were wrong, health officials said on Sunday. 


According to authorities, the Airports Authority of India has also replaced the services of the Delhi-based laboratory with those of a local lab.


The investigation was launched after numerous passengers who returned from Italy claimed that their Covid positive result was incorrect because they had tested negative hours before boarding the trip. 


They had expressed concerns about the lab's testing procedures. 


Many of them had even caused a commotion at the international airport here.


According to authorities, several of the passengers who arrived at Shri Guru Ramdas International Airport later tested negative in a re-test.


‘Probe Has Been Initiated By AAI Against Pvt Lab’: Dr. Amarjit Singh


“A probe has been initiated by the Airports Authority of India against the alleged errant working of the lab. The services of the existing Delhi-based lab has been suspended and new local lab has resumed its working at the airport,” Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr. Amarjit Singh was quoted by PTI in its report. 


He stated that the Airports Authority of India hired the services of this Delhi-based lab on December 15, 2021. 


Second Time In A Row That Travellers Arriving At Amritsar Tested Covid Positive


According to officials, at least 173 passengers aboard a chartered aircraft from Rome to Amritsar were discovered to be Covid-positive after being checked upon arrival on Friday. 


This is the second time in a row that a big number of travellers arriving at Amritsar airport from Italy have tested positive for the coronavirus.


On Thursday, 125 passengers on another charter aircraft from Milan, Italy, were declared positive after being tested upon arrival at the Amritsar airport. 


Passengers From At-Risk Nations Must Be Tested For Covid-19: Union Health Ministry


Passengers arriving in India from "at risk" nations must be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at the airport, according to Union Health Ministry regulations. 


The Union Health Ministry has designated all European countries, including Italy, as "at risk."


(With PTI Inputs)