OVER 200 JUMP OFF TRAIN TO AVOID QUARANTINE

More than 200 Surat returnees hailing from Odisha on Monday allegedly jumped off a Shramik special train near Kantabanji railway station in Balangir district after pulling the alarm chain.

According to reports, the train carrying guest workers from Surat to Nirgundi in Cuttack halted near Kantabanji railway station early in the morning as the alarm chain was pulled.

Moments later, as many as 305 workers from Nuapada, Kalahandi and Balangir districts got out of the train. However, they were stopped by the Government Railway Police (GRP) from going elsewhere. They were provided snacks at the railway station platform.

Though the guest workers refuted the allegation of alarm chain being pulled and said that they alighted from the train as it stopped, Kantabanji Railway Station Manager said the chain was pulled for which the train halted. “The guest workers who alighted here have been served food and water. They will be sent to their respective native places in buses,” the official said.