First special train ferrying migrants reaches Jharkhand

first special train ferrying over 1,200 stranded migrant labourers from Telangana to Jharkhand reached its destination Hatia Friday night, from where state government would take m to ir respective districts in sanitised buses, following COVID-19 protocols.

train starting from Lingampally in Telangana to Hatia is first one run by railways since its services were suspended due to nationwide lockdown. migrant workers were visibly ecstatic as train chugged into Hatia station, on outskirts of Ranchi city, around 11.15 PM. y were welcome with roses by senior officials.

"I am very happy. I don't have words to express my delight.... We were given proper food re and also here," a migrant worker from Ramgarh said, ding he always believed that he would return home.

Thanking government for ir safe return, ar migrant worker said he "has words to express my delight".

"(y underwent) preliminary screening and buses will take m to ir districts where medical screening will be carried out.... After medical screening, y will be home-quarantined and if anybody shows symptoms, y would be kept separately," Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray told reporters at Hatia station.

A high-level meeting was held between state officials and those from railways for a proper coordination on train's arrival.

" 24-coach train started at 4.50 am on Friday," RPF DG Arun Kumar told PTI in Delhi.

This is first run of a special train after Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed states to ferry migrants back home in buses on Friday. Many states, including Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Presh, Punjab and Telangana, h requested for special trains to ferry migrant workers back home.

Transport Secretary K Ravi Kumar, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray, Senior Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta, Traffic SP Ajit Peter Dungdung took part in meeting with Ranchi Divisional Railway Manr Neeraj Ambast and or railway officials.

After deboarding passengers, empty train will return once it is properly sanitised, he said, ding that all coaches will be locked meticulously to avoid entry of anybody. Disinfectants were being sprayed in around Hatia railway station before arrival of train, official said.

Earlier, a spokesperson of South Central Railway zone, which is running train, said all passengers underwent rmal screening at boarding station, masks were mandatory and food was provided on board as train will have halts. For social-distancing measures, only 54 passengers are allowed per coach, which has a capacity of 72. In coupes, six passengers have been allowed, inste of eight, spokesperson said.

or five "Shramik Special" trains anunced by railways are -- Nasik to Luckw (9:30 pm), Aluva to Bhubaneswar (6 pm), Nasik to Bhopal (8 pm), Jaipur to Patna (10 pm) and Kota to Hatia (9 pm). However, national transporter later said train from Nasik to Luckw was rescheduled. Giving details of arrangements for receiving travelling migrants, official sources in Ranchi said Jharkhand government has taken a decision that relative should come to Hatia station to receive ir family members onboard special train.

government would take passengers to ir residents, an official release said soon after meeting. Transport officials have been asked to prepare an estimate of number of migrant workers set to leave for ir respective districts and make buses available through coordination among officials engd for purpose.

mobile phone numbers of drivers and bus employees should be ted down and sent to officials concerned, release said. Ranchi deputy commissioner will personally monitor entire arrangements and operation at Hatia. Amid social distancing and or security measures, those engd in job would anunce from a public dress system about departure of buses to ir destinations.

At 8 pm, train will reach Jharkhand's Chakrharpur, where passengers will be served packed dinner on train and each migrant worker will be welcomed with a mask and a flower. On arrival, rmal screening of passengers will be conducted, along with videography of entire process. In all, sixty 60 sanitised buses with 25-28 seats each are rey, ensuring physical-distancing measures in every vehicle.

Upon arrival, each worker will again go through a proper medical screening and n, y will be stamped for home-quarantine or sent to institutional quarantine, if deemed necessary. A team of over 200 members, including ministrative officials, health workers and medical screening staff will be present at Hatia station. A 200-member police team will also be present to ensure that all rms are followed at station till departure of buses. Meanwhile, BJP MP V D Ram said around 250 passengers on train are labourers from Palamau district, while 420 are from neighbouring Garhwa district.