Even as airports across the country take preparatory steps to screen passengers for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, there is no facility available for screening at Gaya International airport in Bihar.

The tourists, Buddhist pilgrims and Indian businessmen, arrive by the direct Indian Airlines international flight between Gaya and Bangkok.

The direct flight was started last year in October 18, 2002, to promote tourism and facilitate Buddhist pilgrims.

A senior state health department official, on the condition of anonymity, said the threat of SARS could not be ruled out.

The Gaya district administration said that there is no such report of any case showing symptoms of the atypical pneumonia, but it plans to take some precautionary measures.

The Bihar government officials said that they are helpless to do any thing for proper screening of passengers, as the control lies with the Union ministry of civil aviation.

Officials at the Gaya airport said only the director of the airport is authorize to speak about the issue. Director Sanjay Jain, however, was out of Bihar.