Considering the “urgency and seriousness” required to tackle suspected cases of Ebola infection, the Bombay High Court Wednesday directed the state government to provide adequate detection facilities at international airports in Pune and Nagpur, on the lines of that in Mumbai, within 48 hours. Justices A S Oka and G S Kulkarni took note of the affidavit filed by the Centre, which said there were six flights arriving in Pune from the affected nations via Dubai and Sharjah. In addition, there were three flights coming to Nagpur from Dubai, said Dr V L Gokak, Senior Regional Director, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Pune. “The state government has already been requested by a communication to start health screening,” said the affidavit. The HC remarked: “If the Central government has provided facilities, the state should also provide the same facilities. If steps are delayed, you (state) know the consequences.” The court pointed out that though adequate steps had been taken, the two airports in Pune and Nagpur left scope for concern. “(The) state should adopt same measures, which Union has adopted. Considering urgency and seriousness, we direct the state to provide adequate facilities at Pune and Nagpur on par with the facilities at the international airport in Mumbai,” the court ordered. It clarified that all facilities in Pune and Nagpur had to be provided within 48 hours. The HC has also asked the state to file an affidavit of compliance on or before September 12. The Centre had earlier said all passengers alighting from aircraft originating from the four Ebola-affected west African nations were subjected to a “hi-tech” thermal scanners installed at the entry points of airports. The Centre further submitted in the HC that passengers who approached immigration counters without undergoing health check-up were refused clearances and sent back to the health counters. They are bound to get a stamp and doctor’s signature. The state had said Ebola helplines were established in Mumbai and other places in the state. While giving registration numbers of ambulances in Mumbai and Pune, the state contended it had adequate stock of “personal protective equipment”. Activist Ketan Tirodkar has filed a PIL urging that India needed to ban entry of any person travelling from west African countries to India, especially to Mumbai.