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Surat: Defying closure rules, hundreds of Odisha migrant workers arrived on the roads here Thursday after learning that the Odisha government has revoked the permit for three trains scheduled to depart Friday from the city of Surat, Gujarat.
Surat’s electric looms and textile units employ thousands of people from the eastern state who are now stranded and out of work due to the blockade imposed by the coronavirus.
Before the situation worsened, the police intervened and persuaded the restless migrant workers, numbering in the hundreds, to disperse, authorities said.
“They were anxious after learning that the Odisha government had canceled the permit granted to the three trains coming from Surat carrying migrant workers (following a court order).
“We urge them to remain calm and inform them of the court order. They returned peacefully to their homes, “said Deputy Police Commissioner R.P. Barot.
So far, up to 18 Shramik special trains, each with 1,200 migrants, have gone to Odisha from Surat.
Surat collector Dhaval Patel told reporters that the three trains scheduled for May 8 were canceled after an order from the Odisha High Court issued on Thursday.
“According to the order, only those who test negative for coronavirus will be able to board trains (bound for Odisha).
People cannot go unless their report is negative.
“Therefore, the Odisha government canceled the three trains that were scheduled to depart from here on Friday,” Patel said.
He said the district administration has urged the railway authorities to reimburse the ticket fee.
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