Migrant Workers From Surat To Reach Odisha Today

Bhubaneswar: Over 250 migrants in four buses are expected to arrive in Odisha from Surat, Gujarat, on Wednesday.

These migrants had boarded buses from Hari Nagar and Bhestan areas of Surat on April 27. Three of these buses are heading for Ganjam and one for Nayagarh, sources said.

The buses are expected reach Mundamrai, Brahmanchhai, Saradhapur and Chadhiapalli villages of Ganjam district tonight.

On reaching Odisha, they will be quarantined at temporary medical camps in their respective areas as per government norms.

Following permission from the administration, more Odias in Surat have reportedly rented buses to return home by selling cellphones, gold, the sources added.

After a video conferencing meeting between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Gujarat counterpart Vijay Rupani on April 26, the Odisha government had decided to bring back migrant workers stranded in Gujarat due to nationwide lockdown.

Most of the workers will be brought back to Odisha in buses, official sources said, adding that a decision on using other modes of transportation will be taken after a review.

Surat district has reported 570 COVID-19 positive cases with 19 deaths.