sb.scorecardresearch
Advertisement

Published 22:23 IST, May 2nd 2020

Odisha: Bus carrying migrants from Surat overturns at Kalinga Ghat; 1 dead, 40 rescued

In a tragic development, a bus carrying stranded migrants from Surat in Gujarat to Berhampur in Odisha on Saturday, overturned near Odisha's Kalinga Ghat.

Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
Odisha
null | Image: self
Advertisement

In a tragic development, a bus carrying stranded migrants from Surat in Gujarat to Berhampur in Odisha on Saturday, overturned near Odisha's Kalinga Ghat. Southern Range DIG Satyabrata Bhoi has informed that one person has died and one has suffered injuries. 40 people have been rescued.

Coronavirus Live Updates: India sees sharpest 1-day spike with 2411 cases; tally at 37776

Migrants-carrying bus overturns

SHOCKING: 18 people found travelling in cement mixer truck from Maharashtra to Lucknow

MHA allows movement of migrants

On Friday, amending its order to allow movement of stranded migrants, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons across India, the Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed special trains to be operated by the Ministry of Railways (MOR).  MOR has designated nodal officer(s) for coordinating with State/ UTs for their movement for these point-to-point  'Shramik' express trains. Seven trains were flagged on Friday transporting migrants from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala to Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha. 

The railways clarified that normal train travel is still prohibited. It added that these special trains will only carry those migrants cleared by state authorities and that the functioning of these trains were as per state governments' needs. The Centre is charging Rs 30 per head and an additional Rs 20 for each ticket to board the 'Shramik' trains. Initially, only buses were allowed to be used for the transportation of the persons who will be allowed to proceed only after being medically screened and undergoing 14-day quarantine in institutional facilities or home-quarantine. 

Maharashtra reports 790 new COVID cases & 36 deaths as India sees sharpest single day rise

Stranded migrants issue

After PM Modi had announced the first phase of lockdown, on March 28, thousands of migrant workers were seen thronging the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Delhi's Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal in the hope of reaching their homes, defying lockdown and creating a health hazard. Similarly, after PM Modi announced the extension of the lockdown till May 3, on April 14, around 2,000 migrant workers gathered at Bandra station, under the illusion of boarding 'Jansdharan Express' trains to UP, Bengal and Bihar. Apart from this several visuals have been seen of thousands of migrants walking across state borders to reach their native homes due to loss of income amid lockdown.

Rahul Gandhi raises security concerns of 'Aarogya Setu' after MHA mandates its usage

22:23 IST, May 2nd 2020