GOVERNMENT Railway Police (GRP) sounded alert around railway tracks area in Chhattisgarh in the wake of tragic incident of Aurangabad, Maharashtra in which about seventeen migrant workers were killed after coming under a goods train. Superintendent of Railway Police (SRP), Chhattisgarh issued directives for maintaining vigil around railway tracks and for necessary measures in case daily wage workers were spotted returning afoot to their native villages.

 

With lockdown effected to contain spread of COVID-19 pandemic and borders sealed to check interstate traveling in the same context, the migrant workers took to travel afoot by railway tracks to reach their native villages and in the midst the heart rending incident of Aurangabad was reported.

 

In aftermath of it GRP here issued directives to check of possibilities of such mishaps in Chhattisgarh. In accordance of directives, all five GRP police stations and about 8 GRP posts including those of temporary posts officials and personnel were directed to ensuring round he clock vigil around railway tracks areas in the jurisdiction.

 

As per the directives, it would be mandatory for each GRP police station and police post officials and personnel to maintain vigil in about 2 kilometers area of both sides of each police station and police post. According to directives the GRP officials and personnel will immediately bring the matter to the notice of senior officials, district administration and the local police station of district police force in case they spot migrant workers, traveling afoot by railway tracks. They have also been directed for making arrangements viz temporary shelters, meals etc for migrant workers.

 

J R Thakur, Superintendent of Railway Police, Chhattisgarh informed that the directives were already issued for conducting patrolling and maintaining vigil around railway track areas.