COVID-19 Lockdown | Another 1,485 Meghalayans set to return from four states

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 25, 2020

Over 9,500 people stranded in various parts of the country have so far returned to the state, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong informed on Monday.

Tynsong told reporters that another 1,485 stranded people from four states are coming back to the state.

He said the special trains carrying 225 from Rajasthan and 250 from Andhra Pradesh will leave for Guwahati railway station on Tuesday evening while 500 from Delhi and 510 from Kerala will leave on Wednesday.

The deputy CM further informed that a dedicated team has also been constituted to facilitate the return of stranded citizens from across the country in view of the resumption of flight and railway services. 

He said such citizens are requested to contact the Assistant Commissioner of Transport, Shillong (7005629354), DGM MTC, Tura (8974254116) and an officer (9436103308).

On the confusion related to quarantine of returnees, Tynsong reiterated that as per protocol, it is mandatory for all returnees to go for 14 days quarantine period to be followed by another 14 days self quarantine be it at institutional or community centres or at home.

Regarding the safety of stranded people travelling back to the state, the deputy CM said the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had already taken up the matter with Union Minister concerned as well as the state’s Chief Secretary MS Rao with his counterparts following the incident at Bihar.

“It was after this that youths (coming from Haryana, Gurgaon) were being provided with some snacks (inside the special train)…It seems that they (youths) were totally unprepared as they do not know that there will no shops available due to the lockdown…our students have suffered a lot,” he said.

He however added that there is need to appreciate the efforts of the government, who immediately took action on information received.