Jammu, May 22 : Nearly, 85521 J&K residents, stranded outside UT due to lockdown imposed in the wake of global pandemic, have been brought back to the UT by the Jammu and Kashmir government through 24 COVID special trains, 3 flights besides scores of buses after strictly observing all necessary preventive measures regarding the Virus.
As per the detailed break up about the figures, the government has evacuated 64499 residents of J&K, stranded in various other states and UTs, through Lakhanpur besides bringing back home about 20521 people through special trains at Jammu and Udhampur railway stations. Besides 501 passengers including students have been brought back through special flights, so far.
Nearly, 1390 stranded passengers have entered through Lakhanpur from May 21 to May 22 morning while 797 passengers have reached today in the 9th COVID special train at Jammu railway station. So far, 9 trains have reached Jammu with a total of 8070 stranded passengers belonging to different districts while 12451 passengers have reached Udhampur in 15 special trains, so far.
As per the official communiqué, of 64499 returnees evacuated through Lakhanpur till May 22, 2020 (morning) included 14837 from Punjab; 20151 from Himachal Pardesh, 21 from Andhra Pardesh, 6359 from Delhi, 1339 from Gujrat, 2565 from Rajasthan, 3684 from Haryana, 135 from Chattisgarh, 3267 from Uttarakhand, 941 from Maharashtra, 4204 from Uttar Pradesh, 63 from Odisha, 244 from Assam and 968 from Madhya Pradesh, 88 from Dehradun, 1064 from Chandigarh, 677 from Telengana, 99 from Karnataka, 8 from Tamilnadu, 52 from Chennai, 293 from Bihar, 140 from West Bengal, 26 from Jharkhand, 3 from Nepal and 3271 from other states and UTs.
Pertinently, the district administrations of Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Srinagar have put in place elaborate arrangements and facilities for safe and successful boarding and de-boarding of returnees at the Railway stations and airport and their journey towards their home districts. Besides, 100 per cent sampling of returnees is being done at the kiosks established at the stations and it is ensured that the people in the administrative quarantine go home only after they are tested negative for Corona virus. The administrations are strictly adherening to the guidelines issued by MHA and MoFHW regarding COVID-19. It is being ensured that during the boarding and de-boarding process the passengers observe social distancing and wear masks. Besides, complete protection of the administrative staff and others on duty is being ensured.
Principal Secretary PDD, Rohit Kansal; Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi and Chief Electoral Officer, Hirdesh Kumar, who are the Nodal Officers for management of return of stranded people at Jammu, Udhampur and Kathua respectively, are personally monitoring the facilities being extended to the passengers during their de-boarding and movement to their home districts. (PTK)
