Need 400 trains to send back migrant labourers: Kerala CS

With the first train left from Aluva to Bhubaneswar after the central government allowed movement of stranded migrant labourers, Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose said on Saturday, that it might take about a month and 400 trains to send back all the migrant labourers, to their native places from the state.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief secretary Tom Jose on Saturday said it might take about a month and 400 trains to send back all the migrant labourers from the state to their native places.

"Yesterday night the first train left, today there are more trains and tomorrow even more. It might take a month and about 300 to 400 trains to send back all the migrant workers who are here," said Jose.

"On Friday night, the first train with 1148 migrant labourers left from Aluva to Bhubaneswar. On Saturday as things stand, a train will leave from here to Jharkhand around 2 p.m," he added.

As per information received, the train is expected to take 1150 passengers and would also be a non-stop one. Each passenger has to pay a base fare of Rs 875.

According to reports, two more trains are also at the moment listed to move out of Ernakulam district. One to Bhubaneswar and another one to Patna.

Since the lockdown began in March, according to the State Labour department, there are 20,826 camps across Kerala where 3,61,190 migrant labourers are stranded.

IANS