J&K govt to organize special trains to bring back stranded residents, bear cost of tickets

Asserting that special trains will be organized for J&K residents stranded at far off states, the Union Territory spokesperson Rohit Kansal on Friday said that all those people who register will be facilitated. Mr Kansal said that the pace of returning stranded people to J&K has been picked up with over 33,000 UT residents already facilitated. He said J&K will test all returnees -- 100 per cent -- with no exceptions. “That's the only way we can stamp out the virus,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Nodal officer for movement of stranded persons of J&K said that the stranded people in the states and UTs of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, and Delhi have been permitted to return, in a regulated manner, with effect from Thursday and this process will take a week.

"Simultaneously, trains will start arriving shortly, necessary coordination with the sending states as also with the Railway authorities going on", he said, adding nobody should move in hurry without passes issued with the consent of J&K government else will be quarantined for 21 days in Kathua.

"The government has decided to bear the cost of tickets and the returnees will not need to make any payments for their return journey by train", he said.

He said the UT administration has taken umpteen measures for controlling the spread of COVID-19 with frontline workers working untiringly. "In the backdrop, it is necessary that the return is managed such that these efforts do not get adversely affected. The government reassures all stranded people of J&K that it is taking every possible step for their early return to their homes", he added.

The Nodal officer said that the government is fully aware of the details of the stranded persons of J&K at various places across the country, not only through the web links started by the administration but also from the data shared by the sending states and UTs.

"Immediately, on finalization of arrangements, they shall be notified about the issuance of passes and travel details. In case any difficulties are being faced at the current place of their stay, they may contact the helpline numbers that have been publicized by the government so that they are facilitated", he added.

"Trains to be organized for people stranded at far off places. Arrangements being finalised with sending states and railway authorities. All those have registered will be facilitated", Mr Kansal wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

"Return of stranded people picks up pace. Nearly 2800 arrived yesterday via Lakhanpur. Over 3000 students, labourers, others from Pb, HP, Chd, HY, UK expected today. Total number of returnees now over 33000. THANK YOU all for your patience and cooperation", he said.

"All migrant workers and truck drivers being tested at Lakhanpur, Thandi Khui in Samba, Tikri in Udh and in Doda dist; Mobile sample collection vans pressed into service in Jmu and Udh for checking spread of #COVID19,” he wrote.