1,140 migrants set to leave from Kovai to Bihar

It was on Thursday night, a large number of migrant workers, who turned up at Coimbatore railway station with hopes of going to their hometowns, returned disappointed as their plans were disrupted at the last minute.

With hopes of returning home, hundreds of migrant workers turned up at the railway station carrying luggage and their belongings ready to leave by a train announced to depart at 11pm.

However, their travel plan was put off at the eleventh hour as officials informed them that the Odisha government has issued strict orders to send them only after testing for COVID-19.

Following this, officials made arrangements for the workers to leave on Friday night. The workers were tested and ensured that they adhered to health protocols like wearing masks and social distancing on board the train.

Meanwhile, in Tirupur, a large number of migrant workers continued their protest by gathering near railway station demanding to send them to their hometowns on Friday. They even offered to pay money for the travel.

Police had a tough time convincing the workers and made arrangements for their temporary stay in a nearby school.

In Salem district, around 30 migrant workers began their journey to Rajasthan by a bus after taking due permission from the administration. They were seated by following social distancing norms and wore masks during the journey. More than 2,000 workers from other states have been residing in the district doing various jobs.