An RT-PCR lab with a capacity to conduct 292 tests in 24 hours was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Ladakh, Radha Krishna Mathur on October 23 at COVID-19 dedicated Hospital, Kurbathang. 

The laboratory equipped with a fully automatic Bio-Rad RT-PCR Machine and RNA Extractor machine has the capacity to test 96 samples in one run. In 24 hours 3 runs will be carried out. 

R K Mathur stated that this lab is one of the highly sophisticated labs in the country with biosafety level 2, which is presently available only in few districts of the country. He further added that with the coming up of this facility, test facilities and test results will now be available to the people in a hassle-free manner.

He inspected different sections of the laboratory including the storage section, sample processing room, and the RNA extraction room, and expressed his satisfaction with the testing facilities.

CEC LAHDC, Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan; EC, Health, Muhammad Ali Chandan; EC Works, Mubarak Shah Naqvi; Deputy Commissioner and CEO, LAHDC, Kargil, Baseer ul Haq Choudhary; SSP Kargil, Dr. Vinod Kumar, officers of Health department besides other concerned officers, were present on the occasion.

Later, L-G Mathur laid the foundation stone for construction of Assembly Hall, Council Secretariat, Hill Council, Kargil worth ₹ 7 crore, and 56 lakh. The double-story assembly hall structure will have the facilities of a meeting hall, VIP lounge, VIP suite, assembly hall, waiting lounge for officers, and other allied facilities. Also, he visited Council Secretariat Kargil and took stock of the ongoing works for the construction and up-gradation of the Secretariat building.