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More passengers allowed in Shramik special trains; 3 halts in destination states

(Source: Twitter @IRTSassociation)

New Delhi (NVI): In order to accommodate more passengers in Shramik special trains, the Ministry of Railways in its revised guidelines has said that around 1700 passengers will be allowed to travel in these trains now.

The Shramik trains, being operated to ferry migrants stuck across the country amid Covid-19 lockdown, have been carrying 1200 passengers.

As per the revised guidelines, the capacity of these trains should be equal to the number of sleeper berths. The Ministry said that the middle berth will also be allowed to use by the passengers now.

Apart from that, the railway zones have also been asked to provide three stoppages in the destination state other than the final stop, at the request of the state governments.

Indian Railways had decided to operate “Shramik Special” trains after the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order regarding the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places by special trains.

Yesterday, the Union Rail Minister Piyush Goyal said that Railways is fully geared up to run 300 Shramik special trains for migrants daily while appealing to States to give permission to evacuate stranded migrants.

In another big announcement, Railways yesterday said that it will gradually restart passenger train services from May 12, initially with 15 pairs of trains and booking for reservation in these trains will start at 4 pm today.

A total of 468 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalised from various states across the country, in which 363 trains had reached its destination and 105 trains are in transit, the Rail Ministry said in a statement today.

These 363 trains were terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh (1 Train), Bihar (100 Trains), Himachal Pradesh (1 Train), Jharkhand (22 Trains), Madhya Pradesh (30 Trains), Maharashtra (3 Trains), Odisha (25 Trains), Rajasthan(4 Trains), Telangana(2 Trains), Uttar Pradesh (172 Trains), West Bengal(2 Trains), Tamil Nadu (1 Train).

These trains have ferried migrants to cities like Tiruchchirappalli, Titlagarh, Barauni, Khandwa, Jagannathpur, Khurda Road, Prayagraj, Chhapra, Balia, Gaya, Purnia, Varanasi, Darbhanga, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, Hatia, Basti, Katihar, Danapur, Muzzaffarpur, Saharsa etc, the Ministry said.

Proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water.

PM remembers Pokhran tests, Vajpayee on National Technology Day

File photo (Source- Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of National Technology day today, remembered the scientists behind the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests for their “exceptional achievement” and the “remarkable leadership” of the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee which made India a nuclear power.

May 11 marks the anniversary of Pokhran Nuclear Tests (Operation Shakti) of 1998, which gave the country the status of a nuclear-powered state.

On this day in 1998, India successfully conducted the first of its five nuclear tests at Pokhran, Rajasthan. The tests were conducted under the leadership of Vajpayee.

PM Modi took to Twitter on Pokhran II anniversary and wrote: “On National Technology Day, our nation salutes all those who are leveraging technology to bring a positive difference in the lives of others. We remember the exceptional achievement of our scientists on this day in 1998. It was a landmark moment in India’s history.”

“The tests in Pokhran in 1998 also showed the difference a strong political leadership can make,” PM said in another tweet while remembering the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He also posted a video from one of his ‘Mann ki Baat’ sessions in which he spoke about Pokhran, Indian scientists and Atal Bihari’s leadership.

The Prime Minister also lauded those at the forefront of research and innovation, using technology against Covid-19 pandemic.

“Today, technology is helping many in the efforts to make the world free from COVID-19. I salute all those at the forefront of research and innovation on ways to defeat Coronavirus. May we keep harnessing technology in order to create a healthier and better planet,” he said in a series of tweets.


The day also marks the flight of Hansa-3, India’s first indigenous aircraft, which was flown in Bengaluru when the nuclear tests were being organised in Rajasthan.

Hansa-3 was India’s first indigenously built aircraft and showcased the might of the engineers who built this personal 2-seater flying plane.

Every year on this day, the Technology Development Board organizes events on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The day represents the technological development that India has achieved in the fields of science and technology.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): After the first confirmed coronavirus case in India, which was reported in the state of Kerala on January 30, the virus has tightened its grip across the country, with Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh being the most affected states.

The country has now entered the last week of the third phase of the nationwide lockdown that is slated to end on May 17. The total number of confirmed cases have been reported at 67,152 with 2,206 deaths so far, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 33

Andhra Pradesh- 1,980

Arunachal Pradesh- 1

Assam- 63

Bihar- 696

Chandigarh- 169

Chhattisgarh- 59

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 1

Delhi- 6,923

Gujarat- 8,194

Haryana– 703

Himachal Pradesh- 55

Jammu and Kashmir- 861

Jharkhand- 157

Karnataka- 848

Kerala- 512

Ladakh- 42

Madhya Pradesh- 3,614

Maharashtra- 22,171

Meghalaya- 13

Mizoram- 1

Odisha- 377

Puducherry- 9

Punjab- 1,823

Rajasthan- 3,814

Tamil Nadu- 7,204

Telangana- 1,196

Tripura- 150

Uttarakhand- 68

Uttar Pradesh- 3,467

West Bengal – 1,939

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 45

Assam- 1

Bihar- 6

Chandigarh- 1

Delhi- 73

Gujarat- 493

Haryana- 10

Himachal Pradesh- 2

Jammu and Kashmir- 9

Jharkhand- 3

Karnataka- 30

Kerala- 4

Madhya Pradesh- 215

Maharashtra- 832

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 3

Punjab- 31

Rajasthan- 107

Tamil Nadu- 47

Telangana- 29

Uttar Pradesh- 74

Uttarakhand- 1

West Bengal- 185

A total of 20,917 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 44,029 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

Coronavirus cases surpass 4.1 mn worldwide, 1.4 mn recovered

Coronavirus cases
(Representational/file photo)

New Delhi (NVI): More than 4.1 million cases of the coronavirus have now been confirmed across the world, while 1.4 million people have recovered from the disease so far, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

More than 2,82,500 people have died worldwide due to contagion.

Meanwhile, Britain has announced a cautious easing of the country’s lockdown, encouraging those who cannot work from home to go back to their workplaces and allowing people to go out for unlimited exercise.

China and South Korea are battling renewed spikes in coronavirus cases. South Korea has started testing thousands of people suspected of infection after being exposed to the virus at a number of Seoul nightclubs and bars.

China has reported 17 new cases of coronavirus, including five in Wuhan, the city where the virus first emerged late last year.

New Zealand plans to ease nearly all the coronavirus restrictions from Thursday and will allow restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and shopping centers to reopen, as well as travel within the country to resume.

In the US, more than 1.3 million cases and at least 79,500 deaths have been reported.

COVID-19 cases rise to 67,152 in India, death toll at 2,206

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has increased to 67,152 while the death toll rose to 2,206, according to the latest data with the Union Health Ministry said.

In the last 24 hours, 4,213 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country, making it the highest single-day rise. Apart from that, at least 97 people succumbed to the pandemic in a day.

Three states which have almost half the number of COVID-19 cases and 72 per cent deaths across the country are Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Maharashtra has a maximum of 22,171 cases so far, followed by Gujarat with 8,194 cases and Tamil Nadu with 7,204 positive cases, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, Indian Railways will resume booking passenger train tickets on the IRCTC website from 4 PM today. An announcement regarding this was made by the Ministry of Railways yesterday.

In another news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold fifth meeting via video conferencing with the Chief Ministers of all the states to discuss the next stage in the exit from the nationwide lockdown.

Railways to restart select passenger trains from May 12

(Representational Image)

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Railways today said that it will gradually restart passenger train services from May 12, initially with 15 pairs of trains and booking for reservation in these trains will start at 4 pm tomorrow.

Booking will be available only on the IRCTC website, Ministry of Railways said in a statement, adding that ticket booking counters at the railway stations shall remain closed and no counter tickets (including platform tickets) shall be issued.

These trains will be run as special trains from New Delhi Station connecting Dibrugarh, Agartala, Howrah, Patna, Bilaspur, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Madgaon, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad and Jammu Tawi, the Ministry said.

“Thereafter, Indian Railways shall start more special services on new routes, based on the available coaches after reserving 20,000 coaches for COVID-19 care centres and adequate number of coaches being reserved to enable operation of up to 300 trains everyday as ‘Shramik Special’ for stranded migrants,” it said.

Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal wrote on Twitter: “Railways plans to gradually restart passenger train operations from 12th May, 2020, initially with 15 pairs of special trains connecting New Delhi with major stations across India. Booking in these trains will start at 4 pm on 11th May.”


The Ministry further informed that only passengers with valid confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations.

Proper COVID safety and social distancing protocols will be followed and it will be mandatory for the passengers to wear face cover and undergo screening at departure. “Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the train. Further details including train schedule will be issued separately in due course,” the Ministry added.

Railways ready to run 300 Shramik special trains daily: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi (NVI): Railways is fully geared up to run 300 Shramik special trains for migrants daily, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said today while appealing to States to give permission to evacuate stranded migrants.

“As per the directions of Hon’ble PM @NarendraModi ji, Railways is fully geared up to run 300 Shramik Special trains everyday at short notice since the last six days,” Goyal tweeted.

“I appeal to all the States to give permission to evacuate and bring back their stranded migrants so that we can get all of them back to their homes in the next 3-4 days itself,” he said in another tweet.

According to the Ministry of Railways, 366 “Shramik Special” trains have been operated till May 10 (1500 hrs) across the country.

“As on 10th May 2020, a total of 366 ‘Shramik Special’ trains have been operationalized from various states across the country, in which 287 trains had reached its destination and 79 trains are in transit,” the Rail Ministry said in a statement.

These 287 trains were terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh (1 Train), Bihar (87 Trains), Himachal Pradesh (1 Train), Jharkhand (16 Trains), Madhya Pradesh (24 Trains), Maharashtra (3 Trains), Odisha (20 Trains), Rajasthan(4 Trains), Telangana(2 Trains), Uttar Pradesh (127 Trains), West Bengal(2 Trains), the Ministry said.

These trains have ferried migrants to cities like Tiruchchirappalli, Titlagarh, Barauni, Khandwa, Jagannathpur, Khurda Road, Prayagraj, Chhapra, Balia, Gaya, Purnia, Varanasi, Darbhanga, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, Hatia, Basti, Katihar, Danapur, Muzzaffarpur, Saharsa etc, it said.

The Ministry said that in these Shramik Special Trains, maximum around 1200 passengers can travel observing social distancing. Proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water.

The Railways has decided to operate these trains after a Ministry of Home Affairs order regarding the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places by special trains.

Meanwhile, at 2 pm tomorrow, a train carrying 1,188 passengers will leave from Chandigarh to Kishanganj in Bihar. It will also carry passengers to Araria in Bihar.

75% Covid patients in Delhi asymptomatic or have mild symptoms: Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister today said that out of around 6,923 Covid positive cases in Delhi, only 1,476 cases are in hospitals. He said that 75 per cent of total Covid patients in Delhi are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.

“Out of around 1,500 cases in hospitals, 91 are in ICU and 27 are on ventilator,” he said during a webcast today.

Kejriwal said that the Central government has released SOPs for treatment of people with mild symptoms at home. “We have made arrangements for such people at their homes now, they need not to be admitted in hospitals,” he said, adding that Delhi Government teams brief the family members of such patients on possible treatment at home.


“Our teams call at the homes of such patients on a daily basis and keep in close touch with them,” he said.

The Delhi CM said that if such patients do not have separate rooms or toilets in their houses, the government is ensuring that they can get admitted to Covid-19 care centres.

“So, there are very less such people who are serious or are dying in Delhi,” he added.

After Maharashtra and Gujarat, Delhi is has recorded third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country. As per the health bulleting for today, the national capital has 4,781 active cases while 2,069 have recovered till date. 381 new cases were reported today and 73 deaths have taken place so far.

Covid-19: PM to hold 5th meeting with State CMs via video-conference tomorrow

PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold his fifth meeting with state Chief Ministers tomorrow via video-conference and is expected to review phased exit from lockdown and the road ahead.

PM Modi is expected to interact with the state CM’s at 3 PM tomorrow and is likely to get an opinion from the States on the further raising of exemptions to boost economic activities.

“PM @narendramodi to hold the 5th meeting via video-conference with state Chief Ministers tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM,” PMO said in a tweet.


The virtual meeting will also be attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. Senior Officials from the Centre including the Home and Health Secretary are also expected to join in.

Earlier today, the PM chaired a meeting of the NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) to review the situation in Visakhapatnam where 11 people were killed and over 1,000 were affected due to a gas leak incident at a chemical plant on Thursday.


India is currently under the third phase of a nationwide lockdown that is slated to end on May 17. The lockdown was first announced by PM Modi on March 24 and has been extended twice since then.

The government had announced some relaxations in green and orange zones, while extending the lockdown till May 17. These include movement of private and public transport within a state, functioning of private offices with 33 per cent strength and opening of standalone liquor shops in red zones, except in containment zones.

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 death toll in India has crossed the 2,000 mark with 2,109 fatalities. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 62,939 with 41,472 active cases. There are 111 foreign nationals in total confirmed cases. 128 people have died and 3,277 new cases have been reported in the past 24 hours.

Movement of doctors, nurses, paramedics should be unhindered: Cabinet Secretary

New Delhi (NVI): Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba today asked all States and Union Territories to ensure free movements of doctors, nurses and paramedics amid Covid-19 lockdown while noting that all steps should be taken to facilitate and protect corona warriors.

The Cabinet Secretary was speaking during a video conference with Chief Secretaries and Health Secretaries of all States and UTs via video conference to review their status of Covid-19 management.

During the virtual meeting, the Cabinet Secretary said that more than 350 Shramik special trains have been operated by Railways ferrying 3.5 lakh migrant workers, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

He requested State governments to cooperate with railways in running more Shramik special trains. Apart from this, the Cabinet Secretary noted the cooperation of States on return of Indians from abroad under Vande Bharat Mission.

In the meeting, the State Chief Secretaries informed about the situation in their States and also said that while protection is required from COVID, the economic activities also need to be stepped up in a calibrated manner.

In another news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold his fifth meeting via video-conference with state Chief Ministers tomorrow at 3 PM. He is expected to review phased exit from lockdown in the meeting with state CMs and is likely to get an opinion from the States on the further raising of exemptions to boost economic activities.

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