29 Train Passengers Deboard at Kokrajhar, Welcomed with 'Aronai' by Minister Pramila Rani Brahma

Guwahati: 29 Assam-based passengers who landed in Kokrajhar Railway Station in a special train inbound from Delhi yesterday evening were welcomed back by Assam Minister Pramila Rani Brahma with a traditional Bodo aronai.

Pramila Rani Brahma, who was accompanied by Kokrajhar DC Bhaskar Phukan, said that state government had been taking "stern measures" to combat the Coronavirus outbreak in the state.

Welcoming back the passengers who have stranded for the duration of the nearly 50-day lockdown period, Pramila said that measures and arrangements have been taken for the passengers at various quarantine centres across the district as well in the state. She also placed emphasis on the need to maintain strict "social distancing" in the state to curb an outbreak of the COVID-19 and appealed citizens not to "panic".

The passengers arrived in Kokrajhar railway station via a Delhi-Dibrugarh (02424) special Rajdhani express train around 7.15 pm and disembarked at the station amid the maintenance of strict social distancing protocol. All the returnees were subjected to routine medical check-ups on their arrival at Kokrajhar railway station and were sent to various quarantine centres set up across the district.

Districtwise break-up of the passengers is as follows:

Barpeta - 13

Kokrajhar - 8

Dhubri - 6

Chirang - 1

Udalguri - 1

It is pertinent to mention that at-least five passengers boarded the train at Kokrajhar and headed towards Guwahati. Later, 130 people deboarded the train in Guwahati and 51 were taken to Sarusajai Stadium for mandatory screening, while the others were sent back to their respective districts. After their swabs are taken, the 51 were put in quarantine.

Some of the passengers' faces it up with happiness and relief at finally having reached home and some talked to media and shared their stories of how they were stuck in other Indian states amid the extended lockdown that will soon enter its fourth phase.

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