RANCHI: A special train meant to ferry medical supplies from Bengal to Jharkhand arrived in Ranchi on Friday after dropping off 30-odd "passengers" at different stations along the route, prompting the state government to seek a clarification from the railways on its standard operating procedure for freight and other services during the lockdown.
The train had left Shalimar station in Howrah on Thursday evening with more than 30 male passengers, some of them identified as former railway staffers, travelling in the three sleeper coaches carrying a consignment of medicines, personal protective equipment and other medical items.
By the time the train chugged into Ranchi station the next day, only a few of the passengers were inside the coaches, sources said. The rest apparently alighted at Bondamunda, Tatanagar, Chakradharpur and other stations.
In a letter to the divisional railway managers of Ranchi, Chakradharpur, Adra, Asansol, Dhanbad, Bhagalpur and Malda, Jharkhand transport secretary K Ravikumar asked for a clarification by Monday evening on the lockdown SOP for movement of freight, parcel and personnel. He also asked for the names, phone numbers and addresses of those who travelled by the special train from Shalimar and got off at various stations.
A copy of the letter has been marked to the chairman of the Railway Board.
Officials of the Ranchi division and the South Eastern Railway headquarters in Kolkata said the passengers were all rail personnel, including some retired staff who had undergone medical treatment at various railway hospitals. "The railways is working in accordance with instructions and guidelines from the Centre. We are not aware if we need to take any clearance from the state govRead More – Source
[contf]
[contfnew]
times of india
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
