Special train ferries stranded migrants from Telangana to Jharkhand

Railways on Friday (May 1) ran a special train to ferry 1,200 stranded migrants from Lingampally in Telangana to Hatia in Jharkhand, a first since the lockdown began.

Following the government’s social distancing guidelines, the 24-coach train contained only 54 people.

A one-off special train was run today from Lingampalli (Hyderabad) to Hatia (Jharkhand) on request of the Telangana Government & as per the directions of Union Railway Ministry. pic.twitter.com/9YptotxcbV

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2020

The Railways Ministry issuing a clarification said, this was a ‘one-off’ special train run on the request of the state government of Telangana.

“The 24 coach train started at 4.50 am today (Friday),” RPF DG Arun Kumar told PTI.

It’s the only train to be deployed so far, he added.

Related news: Centre allows inter-state bus travel for migrants stranded due to lockdown

Confirming the same, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren tweeted that his request has been accepted by the Centre and migrant workers of the state are as important as students.

अंततः केंद्र सरकार ने श्रमिकों को भी वापस लाने की हमारी माँग मानी और हमने तुरंत झारखण्डवासियों को सकुशल वापस लाने हेतु कार्य प्रारम्भ कर दिया।

जैसे अन्य राज्यों में पढ़ रहे छात्र हमारे लिए महत्वपूर्ण हैं ठीक उसी तरह झारखंडी श्रमिक भी उतने ही अहम हैं। हर एक झारखंडी की सुरक्षा 1/2 pic.twitter.com/FsbfgOa8IZ

— Hemant Soren (घर में रहें – सुरक्षित रहें) (@HemantSorenJMM) May 1, 2020

The Centre had on Wednesday (April 29) allowed inter-state movement of people stranded across the country including migrant labourers, pilgrims, tourists, and students by buses.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in its revised guidelines, said all States/Union Territories should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons while also registering them within their regions.

Incidentally, Friday is also the International Labour Day.