A special train from Guwahati to Bangalore will run Sep 1 to help people from the northeast return to their places of study or work in southern states after their mass exodus over fear of attacks. The train, with 14 sleeper class coaches, will leave Guwahati railway station at 1.15 p.m. Saturday, said a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) official Wednesday.

The train service is being started after the Assam government asked the railways to help thousands of students and workers who had arrived home from Bangalore, Hyderabad and other southern cities following rumours of a backlash over the ethnic clashes in Assam.

A railway official said they might run more such trains if there was a demand.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashoka visited Assam and Manipur Aug 25-26 to assure northeastern states of the security in Bangalore and requested the people to return and resume their work and studies.

Ashoka asked Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to arrange for special trains to facilitate the return of the people to Bangalore and other places.