IMPHAL, May 18 - Close on the heels of the third train from Bengaluru, the fourth special train from Vadodara in Gujarat carrying 593 stranded people of Manipur arrived at the Jiribam railway station, 220 km west of Imphal, on Monday morning.
Soon after their arrival at Jiribam around 5 am, the state�s health authorities conducted necessary medical procedures prior to their onward journey to their respective districts. Officials of the law enforcing agencies also assisted the people in maintaining social distancing while escorting them to the buses after the medical formalities.
On Sunday afternoon, the third special train from Bengaluru arrived at Jiribam with 1,450 people, who later left on 43 buses for their respective districts.
The first special train from Chennai with 1,140 stranded people had arrived at Jiribam on May 13, while the second train from Punjab with 932 returnees came on May 15. Manipur is expecting several trains from various parts of the country till May 21.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 consultative committee has recommended 100 per cent testing of all the people who come from outside and to keep them in quarantine centres till the test results are received.
On Sunday, Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar, Additional Director and spokesperson of the Health department, in a press release, stated, �218 stranded people were tested at VRDLs (Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory) of RIMS (154) and JNIMS (64), and all 218 results declared today are found COVID-19 negative.�
RIMS and JNIMS are government healthcare institutes in Imphal.
�This total number includes 12 prisoners from Myanmar and 12 individuals with mild fever, referred directly from the district screening centre (at St Joseph School) of Tengnoupal district located at Kakching Lamkhai,� the release said.
Till date, Manipur has reported seven positive cases of COVID-19 and two of them have fully recovered and discharged from hospitals. The remaining five who are undergoing treatment are said to be stable.
Lockdown violators detained: Manipur Police has detained 825 persons and seized 598 vehicles for violating lockdown norms in the state, a senior officer said.
A sum of Rs 81,710 was collected as fines from them by the concerned duty magistrates, stated a press note issued on Monday by Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) L Kailun.
The ADGP said police will continue to deal with those who violate the lockdown under the National Disaster Management Act, 2005.
It may be mentioned that police had detained 24,436 individuals and 17,351 vehicles for defying the lockdown from March 25 to May 3. A total amount of Rs 23,04,690 has been collected as fine during the period.