Special trains to bring back stranded Himachalis

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 10

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on the request of the state government, the Union Government had agreed to run a special train from Thivim/Margao/Karmali (Goa) to Una to facilitate the movement of Himachalis stranded there. He said the train would start from Goa on May 13 or 14 to bring back Himachalis. He said another such special train would ply from Bengaluru to Una on May 11.

He said the state government was also contemplating urging the Union Government to start similar trains from Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar etc.

He said adequate arrangements would be made at the Una railway station to ensure social distancing.

He said masks, sanitizers and food packages would be provided there. He said district-wise counters would be established there to help people.

He also asked officials to make necessary arrangements to bring back Himachalis stranded in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Rajasthan.

He asked the nodal officers to ensure proper coordination with the nodal officers of the states assigned to them so that the matter could be taken up with the respective state governments at the earliest.

He said all nodal officers should address the queries of the stranded persons on priority.

He said workers must be persuaded to stay back as this would hamper the developmental projects in the state.