50,000 stranded JK residents have returned to UT: Dr Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said around 50,000 residents of Jammu and Kashmir stranded in different parts of the country due to the ongoing lockdown have returned to the Union territory so far.

Singhalso said two trains — one from Benguluru and the other from Goa — were ontheir way to Udhampur, while around 20 buses carrying students from MadhyaPradesh and other places have reached Jammu and Kashmir.

   

Asmany as 48,000 people have returned to Jammu and Kashmir by road through theLakhanpur entry point in Kathua district in addition to those coming by trainor air.

Thetotal number of people returning to the UT could be over 50,000, he said in astatement here.

Singhsaid more people of Jammu and Kashmir would be able to return in the comingdays as all other modes of transport might open soon.The Union Minister ofState for the PMO said the return of those held up abroad has also begun underthe Vande Bharat Mission.  Singh, whohails from the UT, appealed to all those from Jammu and Kashmir who are held upin different parts of the country to be patient and assured that everybodywould be able to return home since the process of movement has already started.

“Theurge to reach home is quite natural and understandable but it is an unusualsituation as all of us know,” he said.

Allaying all misgivings or misinformation that there was any favouritism or pick-and-choose in bringing back those who were held up outside, the minister said a clear criteria was being followed, as per which labourers or migrant workers in hard-pressed situations or students in distress were being given priority. 

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