97 people died while travelling on Shramik Special trains: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal

government has informed Rajya Sabha that 97 people died on board Shramik Specials, mitting for first time that migrant labourers lost ir lives in trains which were run to ferry m during COVID-19 lockdown.

In a written answer to a question posed by TMC MP Derek O’Brien on Friday, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal provided statistics to upper house of parliament.

"Based on data provided by State Police, 97 persons have been reported de till 09.09.2020 while travelling on board Shramik Special Trains during current Covid-19 situation/crisis," minister said.

" state police registers case under Section 174 of Cr.PC in cases of unnatural deaths and follows furr legal process," minister said.

Out of 97 cases of death, state police sent de bodies for post mortem in 87 cases, minister said.

A total of 51 post mortem reports have been obtained from respective state police forces so far, in which reasons for deaths have been shown as cardiac arrest/heart disease/brain hemorrh/pre-existing chronic disease/chronic lung disease/chronic liver disease etc, minister said.

statement of minister comes after government came under criticism when labour ministry earlier this week informed parliament that data is available on number of migrant workers who lost ir lives during 68-day lockdown enforced on March 25 to curb spre of COVID-19.

Shramik Special trains began operation on May 1 to ferry migrant labourers back to ir home states during lockdown period.

In all, 4,621 Shramik Special trains were operated between May 1 and August 31, carrying 6,319,000 passengers to ir home states, ministry said.

“Policing on Railways being a state subject, prevention of crime, registration of cases, ir investigation and maintenance of law & order in Railway premises as well as on running trains are statutory responsibility of state governments, which y discharge through Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police," Goyal said.

"Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements efforts of GRP/District Police to provide better protection and security of passenger area & passengers and for related matters," Goyal said.

Im credits: PTI