10 trains from Karnataka ferry 12,681 migrants back home

Saturday’s second train with 1,520 migrants departed at 3.08 p.m. for Ashokapuram in Mysuru to Gorkahpur in UP.

Ten special trains ferried 12,681 migrant workers to their respective home states amid the nationwide lockdown from Karnataka, an official said on Saturday.

Students and other migrants from Manipur stand in a queue to board the bus to reach Malur and Chikkabanavara Railway Station to travel to their native places during the ongoing lockdown, in Bengaluru on May 15. (ANI)

“Saturday’s first Shramik special train from South Western Railway (SWR) zone overall second from Mysuru division and 55th from SWR has left Kabakaputtur at 2 p.m. with 1,520 passengers for Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh,” said a SWR zone official.

Saturday’s second train with 1,520 migrants departed at 3.08 p.m. for Ashokapuram in Mysuru to Gorkahpur in UP.

The third special train departed Malur station for Darbhanga in Bihar at 4.50 p.m. with 1,457 migrants.

The fourth train left Chikka Bannavara station for Nargundi in Odisha at 4.30 p.m. with 1,518 passengers.

The fifth train from Chikka Bannavara left for Lucknow at 6 p.m. with 1,515 migrants.

The sixth special train left at 7.15 p.m. from Malur to Purnia in Bihar with 1,299 migrants.

Saturday’s seventh special train left Chikka Bannavara station to Malda Town in West Bengal at 8 p.m. with 985 passengers.

The eighth special train from Hubli division left Ballari station for Saharsa in Bihar at 9.25 p.m. with 1,395 passengers.

Ninth train departed Chikka Bannavara station for Nergundi in Odisha at 10.05 p.m. with 1,278 passengers.

Saturday’s tenth train and last train left Malur for Dhanbad in Jhakhand with 1,472 passengers at 9.05 p.m.

“Total 10 trains from SWR on Saturday. Overall count 64 now,” said an official.

The SWR zone has operated 64 special trains so far to transport migrants back home.

The special trains are being run following the Union Ministry of Home Affairs permission for the movement of stranded migrant labourers, workers, students, tourists and others.