About 4,800 migrant labourers from Gujarat, Kerala to reach state today

Bhubaneswar: Four Shramik Special trains carrying around 4,800 Odia migrant labourers stranded in Gujarat’s Surat and Kerala will reach Jagannathpur station in Ganjam district on Thursday. One train from Palghat in Kerala and three trains from Surat left for Odisha on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, three trains reached Jagannathpur station in Ganjam district carrying around 3,500 Odia migrant labourers stranded in Surat. Each train accommodates around 1,200 people.
As most of the passengers belong to Ganjam and other southern Odisha districts, the special trains halt at Jagannathpur station on the outskirts of Berhampur city. The Ganjam district administration had put up counters for the registration of passengers before they were headed towards their quarantine centres.
“The government officials of different districts wait outside the station with buses and other vehicles to take their people. Vehicles bring them from the station after health screening and quarantine stamping on hand,” a senior government officer said.
So far 13 special trains carrying around 15,500 people have reached Odisha in four days. As many as 10 trains came from Surat in Gujarat, two trains from Kerala and one from Bengaluru in Karnataka.
Four special trains are on the way. The total number of trains to the state will touch 17 after these four trains reach Jagannathpur on Thursday. Sources said the Railways may run more such trains to bring Odias stranded in different parts of the country.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has announced that Odisha will not allow any bus from Surat in view of the accident and other difficulties. He had told media persons on Tuesday that the state will allow migrant workers from Surat to come via train only.
The first Shramik Special train for Odisha had started from Aluva in Kerala to Khurda Road on the night of May 1 night with an additional stoppage at Jagannathpur in Ganjam district.