Special train from Haridwar carrying 1138 migrant workers reach Krishnagar station tonight

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 18 MAY: A special train carrying migrant workers from Haridwar in Uttarakhand reached Krishnagar station in Nadia at around 7.30 pm tonight.

A total of 1138 migrant workers for Nadia, Murshidabad, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Malda travelled the journey and they were greeted with bouquets of roses by the Nadia district magistrate Vibhu Goel and SP, Krishnagar police district Zafar Afjal Kidwai.

The top railway officials were also present when the train reached the station.

The railways had arranged a tight security. The station was barricaded from outside to prevent any unwanted visitors. Medical teams from both the state government and the Eastern Railways were deputed. Inside the station, every protocol for a pandemic situation was maintained. 

According to officials, all the migrants were taken from Krishnagar station to Krishnagar stadium for medical checkup. After completing the check up, they were sent to their native areas by buses.

The next three consecutive trains from Kerala will reach on 20 May, 25 May and 1 June.

These trains will carry migrant workers of different districts including Nadia, Murshidabad and Malda.

The railways have already ensured all possible precautions for Covid-19, like disinfection of platforms and bogies and detailed briefing of the migrants following social distancing norms and screening of passengers.

The station was barricaded from outside as all the coaches of a train will not get to the platform. The Krishnagar railway platform is not so long to provide all 20 coaches at a time. So, some coaches will stand outside the platform, a railway police official said.

But whatever the arrangement made for migrant workers, the railway officials did not allow the media persons to click photographs of the train and migrant workers.

“The railway authorities were trying to hide something before the media persons by not allowing them to get photographs. It should be remembered that media persons are equally important in the democratic system as front line warriors. They are fighting bravely against the coronavirus outbreak by spreading awareness as well as highlighting facts and plights of migrant workers”, a senior police official said.

District magistrate, Mr Goel said, “Around 1100 migrant workers have reached here today. We will send them to their native districts by buses. We have arranged food and water for them. Those who will show symptoms, we will keep them here. Among the migrants, bare nine to ten persons are residents of Nadia. The rest are residents of Murshidabad and Malda”.