AMN / NEW DELHI
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to governments of Gujarat and Bihar and Chairman of Railway Board as well as Union Home Secretary on reports that the trains which are ferrying the migrant labourers are not only starting late but are taking many additional days to reach destination.
The Commission said, it is alleged that many migrant labourers lost life during their journey by train due to longer duration and no arrangements for drinking water and food. Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the Commission asked them to submit a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.
The NHRC said, the Chief Secretaries of Gujarat and Bihar are expected to specifically inform as to what steps were taken to ensure basic facilities including medical facilities for the migrant labourers who boarded the trains.
Issuing the notices, the Commission has observed that the Rail network in India is the largest in the world and well equipped with the modern technology, trained staff and other infrastructure.
A train getting late due to bad weather for some hours is always considered beyond control of the authorities but trains getting lost during journey, reaching unexpected destinations and taking more than a week to reach its scheduled station is hard to believe and require a thorough investigation into the matter.