Karna govt makes U-turn, to resume spl trains for migrant workers; Railways ferry over 1.9 lakh migrants in 1 week

In a U-turn, the Karnataka government on Thursday decided to resume special trains to send back stranded migrant workers to their home states, two days after it stopped the services that drew flak from opposition parties.

As the Yediyurappa government sought the approval of nine states receiving their natives, the Railways said it has operated 189 Shramik Special' trains since May 1 and ferried home over 1.90 lakh migrant workers stranded in various parts of the country due to the coronavirus lockdown.

On Tuesday, the state government withdrew its request to the Railways to run more special trains for the migrants within hours of asking for the service, sparking accusations from the opposition parties it was treating the migrant workers worse than bonded labourers. Six trains had earlier originated from places in the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The withdrawal had followed an appeal by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to the workers on the same day to stay back in the state assuring them ...