Photos: Special trains start bringing migrant workers home

By HT Correspondent

Updated On May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

After demands by various states for the return of migrant workers to their native states, and following an assessment of the logistical challenges involved in transporting of people, the Centre on Friday began running special trains — called Shramik Specials — to facilitate the return ofmigrants stuck due to sealed borders and a disruption in transport services due to the lockdown against the coronavirus, which has now been extended till May 17.

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Migrant workers arrive at the Misrod railway station by a special train from Nashik, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in Bhopal, Saturday, May 02. This is the first special train that has reached Bhopal after the Centre's announcement to run such services for the workers. (PTI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Migrant workers arrive at the Misrod railway station by a special train from Nashik, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in Bhopal, Saturday, May 02. This is the first special train that has reached Bhopal after the Centre's announcement to run such services for the workers. (PTI)

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Thermal screening of migrant workers being conducted after they arrive from Nashik by a special train at Misrod railway station in Bhopal, Saturday, May 02. (PTI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Thermal screening of migrant workers being conducted after they arrive from Nashik by a special train at Misrod railway station in Bhopal, Saturday, May 02. (PTI)

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Migrant workers wait to board a special train for Hatia in Jharkhand, at Lingampally Station in Telangana early morning on May 1. This was the first special train to transport the workers. The 24-coach train, which usually seats 72 people in a compartment, contained only 54 people in each in accordance with social distancing guidelines. (PTI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Migrant workers wait to board a special train for Hatia in Jharkhand, at Lingampally Station in Telangana early morning on May 1. This was the first special train to transport the workers. The 24-coach train, which usually seats 72 people in a compartment, contained only 54 people in each in accordance with social distancing guidelines. (PTI)

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Migrants being screened as they arrive at Aluva Station to board a special train for Bhubaneswar to reach their native places, amid ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in Kochi, Friday, May 1. (PTI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Migrants being screened as they arrive at Aluva Station to board a special train for Bhubaneswar to reach their native places, amid ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in Kochi, Friday, May 1. (PTI)

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Migrant workers arrive at Aluva railway station to board on a special train to Odisha from Kochi on May 1. The Centre had come up with a protocol for road movement on Wednesday, after persistent demands by states. The Ministry of Home Affairs included trains as a means of transporting people on Thursday, after an assessment of the scale of movement. (Arun Chandrabose / AFP)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Migrant workers arrive at Aluva railway station to board on a special train to Odisha from Kochi on May 1. The Centre had come up with a protocol for road movement on Wednesday, after persistent demands by states. The Ministry of Home Affairs included trains as a means of transporting people on Thursday, after an assessment of the scale of movement. (Arun Chandrabose / AFP)

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Migrant workers with their belongings journey homewards on the Mumbai-Nashik highway in Thane, on May 1. Millions of workers have been struggling since the lockdown began on March 25, facing a shortage of food and income, and have been seeking to go back home hundreds of kilometres away. Many have chosen to do so even by foot. (Mitesh Bhuvad / PTI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Migrant workers with their belongings journey homewards on the Mumbai-Nashik highway in Thane, on May 1. Millions of workers have been struggling since the lockdown began on March 25, facing a shortage of food and income, and have been seeking to go back home hundreds of kilometres away. Many have chosen to do so even by foot. (Mitesh Bhuvad / PTI)

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Buses carrying migrant workers, belonging to Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, who were stranded in Gujarat in the wake of the lockdown, seen passing through Vijayawada, on May 1. The movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, students, tourists and other stranded people has been allowed by state buses. New guidelines now include the use of trains. (PTI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Buses carrying migrant workers, belonging to Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, who were stranded in Gujarat in the wake of the lockdown, seen passing through Vijayawada, on May 1. The movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, students, tourists and other stranded people has been allowed by state buses. New guidelines now include the use of trains. (PTI)

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A group of migrant workers make their way to Lucknow from Jammu, where they began on April 26 during the lockdown, in Jalandhar on May 1. (ANI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

A group of migrant workers make their way to Lucknow from Jammu, where they began on April 26 during the lockdown, in Jalandhar on May 1. (ANI)

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Migrant workers arrive at the District Collector's office after the government allowed conditional travel in Bengaluru on May 1. Amid apprehensions that the announcement of special trains could lead to crowding in stations, the railway ministry has reiterated that special trains were planned for nominated people identified and registered by state governments. (Shailendra Bhojak / PTI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Migrant workers arrive at the District Collector's office after the government allowed conditional travel in Bengaluru on May 1. Amid apprehensions that the announcement of special trains could lead to crowding in stations, the railway ministry has reiterated that special trains were planned for nominated people identified and registered by state governments. (Shailendra Bhojak / PTI)

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A medic conducts thermal scanning of the migrant workers before they board a special bus on May 1. Shramik Special trains will operate from point-to-point with no halts on the request of the concerned state governments. All passengers have to be screened by the sending states, transported via sanitised buses and only those found asymptomatic will be allowed to travel. (PTI)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

A medic conducts thermal scanning of the migrant workers before they board a special bus on May 1. Shramik Special trains will operate from point-to-point with no halts on the request of the concerned state governments. All passengers have to be screened by the sending states, transported via sanitised buses and only those found asymptomatic will be allowed to travel. (PTI)

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Railway Protection Force personnel stand at a platform as a special train carrying migrant workers from Nashik arrives early morning at Misrod railway station in Bhopal on May 02. (Gagan Nayar / AFP)

Updated on May 02, 2020 01:07 pm IST

Railway Protection Force personnel stand at a platform as a special train carrying migrant workers from Nashik arrives early morning at Misrod railway station in Bhopal on May 02. (Gagan Nayar / AFP)

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