West Bengal local train services unlikely to resume after Covid curbs end on 30 June
Premium- CM Banerjee claimed that the restrictions imposed by her government are not like those in several other states
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has hinted that it is unlikely that local trains will start operating even if the ongoing Covid-related curbs are relaxed a bit after 30 June, as that might spread the disease.
People blocked railway tracks in several stations in the state for around three hours today demanding that they be allowed to board staff special stations. "We are not running the trains to keep the contagion under check. It is natural that stopping the service causes problems for the people. If we run trains now, everybody will be infected by Covid. What will you do then?" she said while speaking to reporters.
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CM Banerjee claimed that the restrictions imposed by her government are not like those in several other states.
"Shops, vegetable markets and all are almost open. Organisations are providing transportation to bring employees. People are working from home in several offices," she said.
West Bengal Covid restrictions
The West Bengal government has imposed certain restrictions in the state from 16 to 30 May to combat a surge in coronavirus infections and extended it twice later. The ongoing curbs are scheduled to come to an end on 30 June.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, West Bengal's Covid-19 toll rose to 17,516 after 41 deaths were recorded in the state, the health bulletin said.
The tally went up to 14,89,286 as 1,923 more people tested positive for the virus.
The number of active cases is now 22,308 while 1,952 recoveries were registered. At least 55,679 samples were tested in the state in the last 24 hours for coronavirus, the bulletin said. Altogether 3,11,043 people were vaccinated in West Bengal on Thursday, a health department official said.
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