Subha Yatra: First Batch Of Kerala Migrants Arrive In Odisha By Train

Berhampur: As part of the first leg of ‘Operation Subha Yatra’, 1,150 Odia migrants from Aluva, Kerala reached Odisha by a special train, today. They alighted at Jagannathpur Station in Ganjam district.

As per reports, of the 1,150 people, 353 hail from Kandhamal district, 131 from Ganjam, 17 from Rayagada, six from Deogarh, three each from Nabarangapur and Kalahandi, and one from Koraput. After the primary screening, the Ganjam district administration sent the migrants to their respective districts via 26 buses and one four-wheeler. Social distancing and other guidelines were strictly followed.

All of them would be mandatorily put in their respective districts’ quarantine centres for 14 days.

Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, SP Brijesh Kumar Rai and Berhampur Municipal Commissioner Chakravarti Singh Rathore and other senior officials were present at the railway station and coordinated the arrival, screening, fooding and transportation. A medical team was also present to undertake the necessary medical examination.

Taking to Twitter, CM Naveen Patnaik lauded Kulange, Rai and other officials for ‘smooth handling, meticulous planning and clockwork precision’ of the first leg of the operation.

He thanked his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan for taking good care of stranded people of Odisha during COVID-19 lockdown and cooperation to ensure their safe return. Patnaik also thanked the Railway ministry for facilitating the ‘Operation Subha Yatra’.