Special train to ferry Himachal residents stranded in Goa

Shimla, May 9 (IANS) The Union government has agreed to run a special train from Goa to Una town in Himachal Pradesh to facilitate the return of state's residents stranded in Goa, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Saturday.Interacting through videoconference from Shimla with those stranded across Goa due to the countrywide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus scare, the Chief Minister said that he had requested Railways Minister Piyush Goyal to ply a special train for them.He said that the special train would start from Goa on May 13 or 14.Thakur said 1,204 Himachal residents are stranded in Goa, including 398 from Mandi, 246 from Kullu, 241 from Kangra, 105 from Chamba, 70 from Shimla, and 43 from Solan districts.He said his government was committed to the welfare of its people working in various parts of the country.
--IANS vg/tsb