WB govt sprays disinfectant on returning migrants

May 06, 2020 12:07

Disinfectant was sprayed on people who reached West Bengal by the 'Shramik special train' from Rajasthan on Tuesday. The train was carrying around 1188 people, mainly migrant workers, from Rajasthan's Ajmer.

The people who arrived at Dankuni Railway Station in Hooghly were screened at the railway station and were sprayed with a disinfectant.

"They are being sent to their respective home after a health check-up. 64 buses and 42 small vehicles have been placed for the purpose," West Bengal Police had informed on Tuesday.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had earlier issued an advisory against the spraying of disinfectant on individuals and groups for COVID-19 management, saying it was physically and psychologically harmful.

"Even if a person is potentially exposed to the COVID-19 virus, spraying the external part of the body does not kill the virus that has entered your body. Also, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that they are effective even in disinfecting the outer clothing/body in an effective manner," it had added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on May 1 had issued an order to extend the ongoing lockdown by two more weeks from May 4 with some relaxations.

The MHA had also allowed the movement of migrant workers, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places by special trains.

The Ministry of Railways has been running 'Shramik special trains,' to ensure smooth movement of migrant labourers and others to their respective native places. -- ANI

Image: This migrant family arriveed at Dankuni station by a special train from Ajmer. Pic: ANI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Ban on onion export lifted; MEP of $550/tonne imposed

The government on Saturday lifted the ban on onion exports but imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $550 per tonne, amid ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country. Last night, the government imposed a 40 per cent duty on export of...

Jai Ho: Was Sukhwinder The Composer?

'When Rahman reached the studio, he heard Sukhwinder fooling around on the mike. Rahman liked what he heard and incorporated it into Jai Ho.'

Markets wrong to hope worst of geopolitical crises over: Wood

Global financial markets are wrong in hoping that the worst is over in geopolitical crises such as the Iran-Israel conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, wrote Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, in a recent note...

LSG, KKR in battle to cement berth in IPL play-offs

With a dominant 24 runs victory over Mumbai Indians propelling second-placed KKR to 14 points and a step closer to qualification for the play-offs, the pressure is on KL Rahul's LSG to find a way past the threat that Shreyas Iyer's side...

What's A Chopper Doing Over Parliament?

On Friday, May 3, 2024, the National Security Guard and the Delhi police conducted a security mock drill at the Parliament building. The primary objective of the drill was to assess and synchronise the readiness of the security forces to...