Shramik train from Ambala takes 1,188 migrants home

Tribune News Service
Ambala, May 7

As many as 1,188 migrant labourers, most of whom were stranded since the national lockdown was clamped on March 25, boarded a special Shramik Express train, which chugged off from here this evening, to return to their homes in Bihar.

The passengers, belonging to seven districts in Bihar, were provided with food packets, water bottles and sanitisers for use during the 25.5-hour-long journey to Katihar where the train would reach tomorrow at 5.30 pm. The children on board were given biscuits.

Second train leaves Hisar

Hisar: Another Shramik train left Hisar railway station for Muzaffarpur in Bihar carrying 1,200 workers from 13 districts on Thursday. A district official said workers, including six women, hailing from Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Gopalgang, West Champaran, Madhubani and Shivhar would reach Muzaffarpur where they would be quarantined for 14 days before heading to their native places. TNS

DC Ashok Kumar Sharma and SP Abhishek Jorwal headed the team of district civil and police administration that gave a send-off to the migrants from the railway station in Ambala Cantonment.

Each and every passenger was medically examined before being allowed to board the train. As many as 54 passengers were seated in each of the total 24 coaches — while maintaining social distance — in the train.

While 117 migrants, who boarded the train, were from Ambala district, others from different districts of the state reached here through special buses arranged by the state government. Of them, 23 were from Panipat, 509 from Bhiwani, 512 from Jind, 25 from Fatehabad, seven from Hisar and eight from Kaithal.

“The migrants were provided free travel and other facilities during the journey,” said the DC.

Station Superintendent BS Gill said the train would reach Katihar in Bihar via Saharanpur in UP tomorrow. From Katihar, the passengers would be taken to their home districts on special buses.

“It was like a dream coming true for us,” said Rajni, who was among the passengers who boarded the special train. Similarly, other migrants Aarti, Suman, Sanju, Sonu, Sajan, Krishan Kumar, Suraj Kumar, Lakhan and Prabhjot said they were thankful to the government for arranging a safe and free return journey.