Bengaluru: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan has hit out at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for asking only two trains for Bengali migrants. 

He said in this regard, “After receiving calls from stranded people of Bengal crying for help to send them back home, today I held a discussion with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. He informed me that the West Bengal Government has till now only asked for two Trains for its people who are stuck in other states.” 

He also added, “"It is disheartening to see that besides the two trains (Rajasthan to Kolkata, the other train has left from Ernakulam to Berhampore), the West Bengal government has not asked for any train for its people who are stranded in other states.” 

Mamata Banerjee has tweeted in this regard thus: “As a part of our promise to bring back citizens of Bengal stranded in other states, 2 special trains from Ajmer & Kerala would leave tomorrow for West Bengal carrying more than 2500 migrant labourers, pilgrims, students & patients. Everyone coming in to be screened as per protocols.” 

As reported by Republic TV, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in West Bengal rose by 112 on Wednesday with 4 deaths reported, taking the total active cases to 1047 and death toll to 74. Co-morbidity figures include another 72 which means death was due to other reasons and COVID-19 was incidental.

The Central government has decided to run trains from several parts of the country to multiple destinations with a view to drop migrants to their home states. 

Such a move will help the migrants to get back to their home states amid the Covid-19 threat.