National

After 40-Days Of Lockdown, First Train Carrying 1,000 Migrants Labourers Set Off

All necessary precautions such prior screening of passengers, maintaining social distancing at the station and in the train were followed

After a month of lockdown in India, the first train carrying about 1000 migrant labourers set off from Lingampally in Telangana for Hatia in Jharkhand Friday morning at 5 AM.

The decision came in power after the meeting chaired between Home and Railway ministers in the late hours of Thursday. More such trains are planned in different regions sources claimed but no official statement has been released yet.

The 24-coach train of unreserved coaches will reach Hatia near Ranchi (Jharkhand) at 11 pm, according to the schedule prepared by Railways. The non-stop train will have only operational halt for crew changing and watering. Railway Protection Force has been deployed to ensure proper social distancing measures. The coaches were sanitised before being rolled into the platform.

The decision comes in power after central government allowed movement of stranded migrants only through buses, helps after the clamour from states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand. Some demanded a train instead. A step forward to bring back the migrants CM of Jharkhand Hemant Soren spoke to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, he said Jharkhand has about 9 lakh migrants stranded across India, and especially in South India. On Thursday, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi had also joined in the chorus demanding trains from the centre for transportation of migrants.

 

Following the continuous demands from the CM’s the moves were taken under consideration. RD Bajpai, spokesman, Ministry of Railways said: “Today morning, a One-off special train was run from Lingampalli to Hatia on request of the State Government of Telangana and as per the directions of Ministry of Railways. All necessary precautions such prior screening of passengers, maintaining social distancing at the station and in the train were followed”.

Bajpai further added, “This was only a One-off Special train and any further trains shall be planned only as per the directions of Ministry of Railways and on request from both the Originating and Destination State Governments.”

Dear Readers,
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.

Related posts