80 percent of stranded Keralites cannot return without train service

Thiruvananthapuram:  Train service is inevitable for 80 percent of stranded Keralites to return home. As of Monday evening, 1,70,917 Keralites in other states have registered to return home. 28,272 have applied for travelling pass. Those who own vehicles or who can rent vehicle constitute the pass applicants.

Only 16.5 percent of those who registered to return home have applied for the pass. Those who are stranded in North Indian states cannot return in their own vehicles. Train service is essential for them.

Criticisms have been raised from various corners over the apathy of the state government, which was keen on transporting the migrant labourers to their states, in repatriating the stranded Keralites from their states of residence.

Chief Minister sent a letter for a special non-stop train only on Monday trigerring reproach that  that the effort for special train was made rather late.

Keralites in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra top the list of applicants for the travelling pass.