Stranded passengers arrive in Chennai, screened for COVID-19

Chennai, May 14 () Nearly 50 days after being strandeddue to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, about 1,000 passengersarrived here on Thursday night by a Delhi-Chennai train, thefirst to this city since limited rail services resumed in thecountry.

As the train chugged into the highly disinfected DrMGR Chennai Central railway station here, a team of healthworkers and a posse of police took positions at vantage pointsto receive the passengers.

The state health department had formed teams comprising400 members to thermal screen all the passengers and thechecks were carried out.

The train arrived at 8.10 PM and a health officialpresent at the station said all the passengers will be shiftedto quarantine facilities post screening.

"They would be given the option to either stay in thehotels identified as quarantine facilities or at their homes.

Those with coronavirus symptoms would be immediatelyshifted to the isolation wards in government hospitals," hesaid.

A couple of passengers to whom spoke seemed to berelieved that they could finally reunite with their familiesafter a near three-month lockdown induced seperation.

"I am relieved that the health workers allowed me to gohome, though I have been asked to remain in isolation in myhouse for 21 days.

The lockdown had not only geographically separated mefrom my family but also made it extremely arduous to live inDelhi," said Shankar, who arrived by the special train.

Vijayawada native Rajasekhar was happy to get back tohis family, as he was stranded in his hometown following theannouncement of the lockdown.

"I had been to Vijayawada, my hometown, before thelockdown came into force and had to remain there separatedfrom my wife and children in Chennai where I work. I am glad Iam able to make it to Chennai finally," the man, who boardedthe train at Vijayawada, said.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government, which is againstresumption of train services till May 31, had written to theCentre that the Railways should quarantine those arriving bythe special trains.

The state government's concerns over the possible spreadof the contagion stems from the influx of passengers from thecoronavirus-hit states or nations, even as its own cumulativetally is close to 10,000 infections.

Earlier, the state government succeeded in tracing andisolating 1,365 cases from the Tablighi Jamaat congregation inDelhi in March and another 4,000 odd from foreign arrivals.

Most of these cases have been treated and dischargedafter testing negative for the virus.

The state has reservations about hosting a new group of1,000 post the Koyambedu vegetable market in Chennai, whichturned into a super spreader with over 3,000 cases linked toit since April end.

With the railways ministry deciding to operate thespecials, the state government, however, made its ownarrangement for screening the passengers and quarantiningthem.

Earlier, hundreds of migrant workers from Assam whodescended upon the Dr MGR Chennai Central railway station herehoping to board a special to reach their homes were stopped bythe police and sent back.

Following information that a special train was arrangedfor Assam, many people walked all the way to the centralstation where they gathered.

The police put up barricades and prevented them fromentering the station. After convincing them that they have toobtain necessary permit from the authorities concerned, thepolice took them in a bus to Gurunanak College here where theywere provided food and shelter.

On Thursday, the Southern Railway continued to operatemigrant special Shramik Express trains, from Chennai andCoimbatore to destinations in Bihar, Assam and Odisha to ferrystranded guest workers in the state.

Meanwhile, on the aviation front, an Air India specialflight carrying 167 stranded Indians from Manila,landed here on Thursday night.

After the health protocols, they will be taken to therespective quarantine facilities, officials said. CORR SAROH ROH