1st ‘Special’ Train With Migrant Workers from Telangana Leaves for Jharkhand

After almost 40 days of lockdown, the first train carrying about 1,000 migrant labourers set off from Lingampally in Telangana for Hatia in Jharkhand at 5 am on Friday. This move came two days after the Centre gave the green signal to migrant workers, students, and tourists stranded in different parts of the country due to the coronavirus lockdown. The special train took off at the request of the southern state’s government.

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

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 as prior screening of passengers, maintaining social distancing at the station, and in the train were followed. 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.”

The 24-coach train of unreserved coaches will reach Hatia near Ranchi at 11 pm. It will have only an operational halt for crew changing and watering. The train has 54 people per coach and its route will be through Ballharshah and Nagpur in Maharashtra, then Raipur and eastwards towards Jharkhand.

The Jharkhand state government has made adequate arrangements for the testing and quarantine of the migrants returning to the state from the special non-stop train.

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