The Firozpur railway division has cancelled 14 trains in Kangra Valley after the State Government banned entry of all tourists to the State over the coronavirus pandemic, a railways spokesperson said.
However, the Ambala railway division is running its trains on Kalka-Shimla and Sirhind-Daulatpur Chowk routes on Friday as usual, Ambala senior DCM Hari Mohan said.
The Ambala division is running its trains so that the tourists stuck in Himachal Pradesh may reach their respective destination and the State's residents of may reach their native places.
However, in order to aware the public, announcements regarding banning entry of tourists to Himachal Pradesh is being made at Kalka railway station on Kalka-Shimla section and all stations on Sirhind-Daulatpur Chowk section.
The Firozpur division spokesperson said that all train services in Kangra valley (Pathankot-Jogindernagar) had been cancelled from midnight on Friday till further orders.
Earlier on Thursday evening, Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati said the movement of all the trains from Punjab to Kangra district would remain suspended after midnight to check spread of the deadly COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).
The movement of trains in Kangra district was banned as a precautionary measure after some positive cases of COVID-19 were found positive in Punjab, he added.
Chief Minister Jairam Thakur had said on Thursday afternoon that the entry of all tourists, including domestic and international, had been banned in the state as a precautionary measure.
HIMACHAL CM MEETS GUV, APPRISES ON STEPS TO CHECK CORONAVIRUS
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur called on Governor Bandaru Dattatraya at Raj Bhavan on Friday and apprised him about the various steps taken by the State Government besides guidelines to check coronavirus in the State.
The Governor expressed satisfaction for the steps taken by the State Government and said that the virus has affected the entire world. But, no case has been reported in Himachal Pradesh so far. He suggested that in addition to the steps taken by the State Government, the data of volunteer and skilled Para Medical Staff should be prepared. He also suggested to keep an eye on border areas of the State and it should be ensured that black marketing of essential materials did not take place.
The Governor urged to involve NGOs in the awareness campaign against coronavirus and to aware people of the Prime Minister's announcement of 'Janata curfew' on Sunday.
GUV GIVES DIRECTIONS TO VCs
Governor Bandaru Dattatraya gave directions to the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities on telephone regarding coronavirus and took a report of caution being taken at the University level.
The Governor directed Prof. Ashok Saryal, Vice-Chancellor, Agricultural University, Palampur and Dr. Parminder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of Horticulture University, Nauni to convey Prime Minister's call of ‘Janata Curfew’ on March 22 to the students through social media. He asked to maintain social distance. He said that in this emergency situation, students should be made aware and given a positive message regarding the situation.
Prof. Sikandar Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla called on Governor at Raj Bhavan and apprised him about the steps taken at University level.