Meghalaya Govt to arrange more special trains for bringing back stranded citizens

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 23, 2020

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Saturday said the government is trying its best to bring back all citizens stranded across the country and abroad due to COVID-19.

Tynsong told reporters that so far over 9,000 people including students have returned to the state while around 6,000-6,500 are still stranded in places like Mumbai, Pune and Goa.

“We are still working out special trains to bring back all of them within this month,” said the deputy CM as he also appeal to the stranded people and their relatives to have patience as the government is doing its best to facilitate their home coming.

Asked, Tynsong informed that there are around 27 citizens from the state who are stranded in different foreign countries. He however said that the protocol for their arrival is being taken care by the Centre.

The deputy CM further informed that 231 stranded people from Telangana will be arriving at Guwahati railway station today evening while another 139 from Haryana will arrive on Sunday afternoon.

He said the government has organized two special trains for bringing back stranded people from Delhi will start on May 27 as he requested those who desire to return to the state to contact the following numbers – 01123014341 or  01123014451 or 9968262299.

He also said another special train from Jaipur Rajasthan will leave for Guwahati railway station on May 26. According to him, registration of people from both these locations is still on.

The deputy CM also asked parents and relatives to communicate to their family members who are stranded outside the state on the need to cooperate with the decision and arrangement made by the government.

“The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have to be adhered in totality because most of our friends are coming back from red zone or containment zone in different parts of the nation,” he said.

In view of this, Tynsong also reiterated that rapid diagnostic test and RT-PCR will be mandatory for all returnees adding on their arrival, they will be put under institutional quarantine centres till the test results are out.  

Meanwhile, the deputy CM said strict regulations will be put in place to ensure compliance of advisories and protocols of the government by all.

“We will also implement penalty clauses to deal with violators,” Tynsong said. According to him, this will help in checking and preventing further spread of COVID-19 in the state.