The first train carrying stranded Indian migrant workers home set out today, as the country prepares to lift its nationwide lockdown.
The restrictions, which have been in place since March 25, are set to ease on Sunday. Railways, which had been suspended during the lockdown, resumed service for one train this morning, bringing 1,200 migrant workers from southern Telangana state back to their home state of Jharkhand in eastern India.
They are due to arrive at 11 p.m. local time tonight, said a senior railways official.
“This is a pilot program and we are testing out social distancing measures, based on which we will take a call on releasing further trains to take migrants home,” Arun Kumar, director general of the Railway Protection Force said.
Workers will be screened and a decision to institutionally quarantine them will be taken upon arrival, Kumar added.
This train journey comes two days after the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order allowing inter-state movement for those stranded away from home, including migrant workers, as long as that they are asymptomatic.
Several states such as Punjab and Maharashtra have asked the central government to send trains to take migrant workers home. Based on the success of this first train, further trains may be commissioned, according to Kumar.
