CHANDIGARH, APRIL 26: Led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s persistent efforts and directives, the Punjab Government has launched a multi-pronged mega operation to bring back the stranded pilgrims from Nanded in Maharashtra, in addition to 2700 labourers and students stuck due to the lockdown in Rajasthan.
While the first batch of 219 pilgrims reached home in Punjab on Sunday afternoon, another group of 176 pilgrims was expected to arrive in 11 vehicles in Bathinda later at night, and thereafter proceed to Amritsar.
According to State Transport Commissioner Amar Pal Singh, another 467 pilgrims in 13 buses had reached Bhilwara in Rajasthan and were expected to arrive in Punjab tomorrow morning.
Further, a convoy of 80 Punjab government buses had crossed Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and were expected to reach Hazoor Sahib Nanded late on Sunday night and were expected to depart for Punjab with the remaining pilgrims on Monday afternoon.
The Chief Minister had, through his persistent efforts, secured permission from the central government a few days earlier to bring back the stranded pilgrims, with the commitment that the Punjab government would work out the logistics and modalities for the same. He had also deputed ACS Home to constantly liaise with the authorities in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for the safe and smooth return of the pilgrims, as well as the labourers and students.
According to an official spokesperson, seven buses carrying 150 Punjab students who had been stranded in Kota in Rajasthan would reach Punjab tomorrow morning.
The state government on Sunday also dispatched 60 buses to Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) to ferry the around 2700 labourers stranded at five relief camps there. They will start back tomorrow evening for Punjab.
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