Over 64 lakh migrant labourers travelled in Shramik trains: Goyal

Goyal also said that none of the railway employees refused to come to work during the crisis

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said that over 64 lakh migrant labourers reached home safely by Shramik trains during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"More than 64 lakh migrant labourers reached home safely. 4,600 Shramik trains were run on 43 routes during the pandemic, the Minister said in the Rajya Sabha in his reply over a discussion on the railways.

"Every state was given the number of trains they demanded. Even then, there were attempts to politicise it. We immediately resolved it. We asked them how many trains they want and we gave them those trains in 12-14 hours. It is a different issue that they were unable to use those because that much was not needed," the minister said.

Goyal said that none of the railway employees refused to come to work during the crisis, even when there was no awareness about the Covid-19 virus.

Communist Party of India (CPI) member Binoy Viswam alleged that migrant labourers were filled in the Shramik trains like refugees and 97 people died on those trains.