Srinagar, May08, CNS: Jammu and Kashmir has geared up to bring stranded residents back home, while about 30,000 Kashmiri residents, who were stranded outside the Union Territory (UT) have already returned home. Special and free trains are being arranged for returning residents, stranded in various states and union territories.
According to CNS, the efforts to bring back these stranded residents, have come into place after Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made an announcement on 29th April, of allowing movement of stranded people with certain conditions and the (Standard Operating Procedure) SOP to this effect was issued on the following day. So far 30, 000 persons have returned back home.
Jammu and Kashmir Government has set up a website, which is collecting the details of stranded residents, where people desirous of returning back home, registered themselves.
Government Jammu and Kashmir, Home Department has issued a statement, wherein it has said that approximately 30, 000 people have so far retuned to valley.
The statement reads, “Approximately thirty thousand persons have entered UT, with proper regulations, from Lakhanpur. During this period, migrant workers, students and stranded persons from the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab have already returned to J&K. the stranded persons in states/UTs of Haryana, Utrakhand, Chandigarh and Delhi have been permitted to return, in regulated manner, with effect from May 7, 2020 and this process will continue for a week.
“Simultaneously, train services are being arranged for stranded persons of J&K particularly from far off places. These trains will start arriving shortly; necessary coordination with the sending states as also with Railway authorities is going on. Nobody should move in hurry, without passes issued with the consent Jammu and Kashmir Government. Else will be quarantined for 21 days in Kathua”, reads the statement.
It further reads, “The government has decided to bear the cost of tickets, the returnees will not need to make any payment for their return journey by train. The UT of J&K has taken umpteen measures for controlling the spread of Covid-19, with frontline workers working untiringly. In this backdrop, it is necessary that the return is managed such that these efforts do not get adversely affected”.
Government gave reassurance to the stranded residents that all the stranded persons from Jammu and Kashmir, that the government is taking all steps to bring them back home as early as possible.
It said that all the details about stranded residents of Jammu and Kashmir are available with government, through website registration and also through the details shared by the various states and UTs.
“Immediately on finalization of arrangements, they shall be notified about the issuance of passes and travel details. In case any difficulties are being faced at the current place of stay, they may contact the helpline numbers, that have been publicized by the Government, so that they are facilitated. It is reiterated that nobody should move in a hurry without express approval of Jammu and Kashmir Government, as such persons will be quarantined for 21 days in Kathua”, reads the statement. (CNS)
