2 trains take 2,754 migrants home

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 17

Two ‘shramik’ special trains with 2,754 migrants left for Bihar and Uttar Pradesh from the Chandigarh railway station today.

With 1,296 passengers on board, the train to Bihar’s West Champaran, Begusrai and Barauni left on scheduled time at 2 pm, while the train to Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, ferrying 1,458 persons, too, left on scheduled time at 6 pm.

The UT Administration has set up two holding centres at the ISBT-43 where the persons are medically examined. Due to the increase in temperature, women with small children, pregnant women, handicapped persons and senior citizens were accommodated in the trains on priority.

One train for next 2 days

There will only one ‘shramik’ train for the next two days instead of the usual two. On Monday, a train to Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) will leave at 5 pm, while on Tuesday, a train to Raibareli (Uttar Pradesh) will leave at 5 pm.

20,181 passengers ferried so far

A total of 20,181 persons have been transported to their hometowns in UP and Bihar through Sharamik trains, while 1,922 have been sent home via buses.

Frontline railway staff get safety kits

The Ambala Division of the Northern Railways, running ‘sharmik’ trains from various stations, including Saharanpur, Ambala Cantt, Sirhind, Patiala, Bathinda, Chandigarh and SAS nagar (Mohali), has given safety kits to its frontline staff.

The officials of ticket checking, reservations and other commercial in-sectors staff on duty have been provided with hygiene kits comprising masks, gloves, sanitisers, soaps and tissue papers.

UT stops registration

Meanwhile, Chandigarh has temporarily stopped the registration of migrant labourers. On May 13, the approximate number of registered migrants touched 1 lakh. Of these, around 70,000 are from UP, 22,000 from Bihar and the rest from other states.

Yashpal Garg, Secretary, Social Welfare, Chandigarh, said due to the relaxations, many registered migrants had started refusing to go back. Moreover, of the city’s total population of nearly 12 lakh, almost one lakh had already registered to go back. The UT wanted to send them back first. Also, due to the smooth movement of migrants here, many workers from nearby districts had also started registering on the UT’s website. He said they would assess and take a call if there was any further need to send migrants home.