Tripura: 37 Stranded in West Bengal, Govt Yet to Provide Assistance

Agartala, April 26, 2020:

West Bengal Police have come to the rescue of at least 37 individuals from Tripura, who had travelled to the Kolkata for medical treatment purposes prior to the nationwide lockdown.

The 37 people are from 13 families in Tripura and are stuck in West Bengal's Mukundapur area under East Jadavpur police station. According to them, they are yet to receive any Government aid.

The people informed that they had applied for monetary assistance from the Tripura Government but they are yet to get any positive response. Manoranjan Das, one of the stranded patients said, “I reached Kolkata on March 13 last to avail treatment here at a private hospital. I had brought some money to manage the expenses of my treatment, however, the nationwide lockdown led to an issue. I have only a few thousand rupees left and there is no hope of this crisis to end."

Speaking to this reporter over phone, Das also said, “I am not alone. There are several others who are facing the same trouble and are left in economic doldrums with no income source and only mounting up expenses."

Shyamal Dey, who had also travelled for treatment purpose said, “After the lockdown was called, the situation took a stiff turn. We were all set to leave Bengal within a few weeks but, now it has been close to a month. I wish to get back home as soon as possible. With dried up pockets and no permission in venturing out, we are facing real problems here,” he said.

All the families are now dependent on the food and ration that the East Jadavpur police is providing to them. Officer-In-Charge Ram Thapa personally visited the distressed families and extended his helping hand.

Speaking to this reporter, Samir Kumar Mandal on-duty officer East Jadavpur said, “We are feeding everyone. We are helping people irrespective of identity, any person who is facing trouble or stranded due to the lockdown. Everyday, from 11:30 AM to 12 PM, food packets are served outside the police station maintaining the social distancing protocols. And, if someone has cooking facilities at their temporary residence, we are also providing dry ration. If anybody needs help in our jurisdiction, they may contact us with no hesitation,” Mandal assured over phone.

Meanwhile, reacting on the issue, Tripura Transport Secretary L Darlong said, “We are reaching out to everyone. Until last Thursday, we had received 5,348 calls from stranded people from across the country. However, only in West Bengal more than 200 people have accessed shelter in Tripura Bhavans. If there is anyone left will be responded shortly for sure.”

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