Assam Congress demands more trains for stranded migrants

Assam Congress on May 23, 2020, demanded the Central government to arrange more trains for the stranded migrant workers to reach home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this regard, Assam Congress president Ripun Bora dashed off a letter to the Union Railway Minister Piyush Goel.

He alleged that the trains provided by the Centre to Assam are not sufficient considering more than 20 lakh people of the state stranded in different parts of the country.

Also read: Assam: With 53 new COVID-19 cases, state tally crosses 300

“The present provisions of the trains made available to Assam do not cover Kerela, Goa, Pudducherry, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telegana and Gujarat where maximum people are stranded,” Bora alleged.

It may be mentioned that India has witnessed an exodus of migrant workers since the lockdown was enforced in the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the Indian Railways had started operation of Shramik Special Trains from May 13 onwards for the migrant workers. The Indian Railways will run 200 new trains in addition to the existing Shramik Special Trains from June 1.

UPPL leader Pramod Boro also wrote to the Railway Minister recently urging to provide more trains for the migrant workers. “Thousands of people from Bodoland Territorial Region are stranded in different parts of the country due to the lockdown. Hence, we urge the Railway Minister to provide more trains so that they can come back to the state,” said Boro.

The novel coronavirus has infected a total of 319 people and claimed four lives so far in the state. Assam is followed by Tripura with 173 cases.

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