The first of the special trains to bring migrants from Uttarakhand back to the State will depart from Surat in Gujarat early on Monday morning. Informing about this on Sunday, the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat thanked the Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal for facilitating the special trains.
Rawat informed that the first train bringing back migrants to Uttarakhand will depart from Surat at 4 AM on Monday and arrive at Kathgodam. This train will transport migrants belonging to the Kumaon region. Similarly, another train will depart from Surat to Haridwar on May 12. The timing of this train is not yet finalised but is expected to be scheduled soon, said the CM. Addressing those returning to their native state the CM wished them good health and asked them to maintain all the necessary precautions for their own health and that of those around them. He also thanked the local social workers who had helped in making various arrangements for migrants from Uttarakhand.Earlier, while addressing the media, cabinet minister and State government spokesman Madan Kaushik had said that about five special trains to bring back migrants from Uttarakhand are expected to be finalised in the next couple of days. It will be recalled that the State government had already deposited Rs 50 lakh advance with the Railways to bring back its natives to the state. The State government has already stated that the migrants returning in the trains will not have to pay for the journey which will be paid for by the govt.