1200 to board special train from Chennai today
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 08 2020: Altogether 1200 Manipuri people stranded at Chennai on account of the country-wide lockdown would board a special train on May 9 and the train would arrive at Jiribam on May 12 .

This was announced by Chief Minister N Biren in a recorded video message sent to media houses this evening.

Saying that all those people who would be brought by special trains would be screened for COVID-19 in advance, the Chief Minister appealed to all bus drivers and handymen not to be unduly afraid.

1200 to board special train from Chennai today

In connection with the scheduled arrival of a special train at Jiribam on May 12 with 1200 people, the Government met representatives of Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) today and the TDC has agreed to charge just Rs 21,000 for hiring a bus instead of the normal rate of Rs 26,000, Biren said.

The 1200 people who would arrive at Jiribam on May 12 would be brought to Imphal in 50 buses and all of them would undergo full medical check-up on arrival at Jiribam.

Appealing to all families, drivers and handymen not to panic, the Chief Minister said that the Government is prepared to grant compensation to drivers and handymen in case anything untoward happens to them in the same scale announced for front line warriors like doctors, nurses and police.

An amount of Rs 12,00,600 would be required in bringing 1200 people from Chennai to Jiribam and another Rs 10,50,000 would be spent in bringing them from Jiribam to Imphal, Biren said.

He also informed that the Government has been working to bring stranded Manipuri people by special trains from Punjab and Chandigarh on May 12 and Bangalore on May 14.He further appealed to all the people not to believe rumours about COVID-19 but only the official statements issued by concerned officials or through DIPR.