390 Stranded students from Assam who were stuck in Rajasthan's Kota will reach their own state later today. The students will arrive at the Srirampur entry checkgate in the Assam-West Bengal border, where they will be screened for the COVID-19.
The students who do not exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms, will be sent on to the 1000-bedded Sarusajai quarantine centre in Guwahati, whereas the ones exhibiting symptoms will be kept at the Srirampur quarantine centre till further orders by the state government.
Earlier in the week, eight policemen were airlifted to Rajasthan to guide the students home.
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Earlier in the week, Assam Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that around 41,000 people without vehicles who are stranded within the state and wish to go back to their own districts will be facilitated by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) for one-time travel on April 25, 26, and 27.
The one-time travel will be “free”, Sarma said, adding the the corporation will be later reimbursed for the expenses incurred in transporting people.
Sarma further said that 100 e-taxis and 30 ASTC buses will be allotted to ferry the citizens to 5 points across Guwahati where the buses will ply from.
However, Sarma added, the service will continue until the stranded people are all rescued. “If need be, we will take 3-4 days to rescue them. They won’t have to make inquiry calls. They will receive the ticket on the day they are to receive the ticket”, he added. Yesterday, the return of stranded persons to their native districts was kickstarted by the Assam State Government.
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