Summary:
About 110 migrants died on Railway premises during the operation of Shramik Special trains since May 1, according to sources.
Data from the states where nearly 63.07 lakh stranded migrants reached on 4,611 Shramik Specials indicate that the 110-odd deaths were caused by a variety of reasons, including pre-existing illness and Covid-19.
Sources said a couple of deaths have not been taken into account as the bodies were found on tracks — apparently run over by trains.
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New Delhi: About 110 migrants died on Railway premises during the operation of Shramik Special trains since May 1, according to sources.
Data from the states where nearly 63.07 lakh stranded migrants reached on 4,611 Shramik Specials indicate that the 110-odd deaths were caused by a variety of reasons, including pre-existing illness and Covid-19.
Sources said a couple of deaths have not been taken into account as the bodies were found on tracks — apparently run over by trains.
The government has contended in various official forums, including in an ongoing case in the Supreme Court, that none of the deaths can be linked to unavailability of food or water on Railway premises.
On Shramik Special trains, food and water was served for free to the migrants.
To put the number of deaths during operation of Shramik Specials in context, sources told The Indian Express that on an average, 75 people died every day on Railway premises in 2019.
These included deaths due to trespassing on railway tracks, natural causes, and a variety of other reasons like falling off trains, being hit by poles while leaning out of moving trains etc.