Srinagar 08 May (KNS): Hasnain Masoodi, JKNC MP from Anantnag has in a statement lamented the slow and sluggish pace of evacuation of the Jammu and Kashmir residents stranded in other states. He has stated that as thousands of people from Jammu and Kashmir are stuck not only in neighboring States of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab but also in far off places like Pondicherry, Cochin, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Assam, Pune, Indore, Jamshedpur, Allahabad and other towns of UP, Haryana and Delhi, exclusive dependence on road transport to ferry the stranded would be grossly inconvenient to them, unjustifiably delay return and prolong their agony. Masoodi today spoke to Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister for Railways and requested that special trains for the stranded be run to Jammu. He was assured that like other destinations special trains would be operated for Jammu once such a request is received from JK administration and agreed by the ‘sending states’. Masoodi has asked the JK administration to take necessary step to ensure that special non stop trains are operated from Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Delhi to Jammu-Udhampur. He on his part proposes to take up the matter with the concerned state governments The statement adds that one hundred Shramik Special Trains run from major cities across the country to Bihar, UP, West Bengal, Jarkhand and Odisha have transported more than one lac stranded people to these States and what is wise for these states cannot be unwise for Jammu and Kashmir. He has stated that if Bihar, Jarkhand and other States can follow the requisite Protocol in case of the evacuated brought back by trains there is no reason that the JK administration cannot follow it in case of the returnees brought by the Shramik Special Trains. He has complained that while returnees to other are provided free ride to their states, the stranded from Jammu and Kashmir, are compelled to arrange transport on their own at exorbitant rates and in some cases the students do not have resources to pay for the return travel. Masoodi has asked the administration to realize that the JK residents visit the states where they are stranded for business or other pursuits only for winter months and cannot stand the sweltering weather and quite a few amongst them mostly in Mumbai and Delhi, on a visit to get medical treatment, are unwell and waiting to return to their homes to be attended by their families. It is stated that there is every danger that scorching heat and unhealthy sanitation may expose the stranded to infectious diseases, unless immediately evacuated. In a statement issued to KNS, Masoodi has expressed dissatisfaction over the present mechanism in place to assist in return of the stranded, as despite the efforts made by the staff on duty, the returnees get stuck at Lakhanpur in soaring temperatures for hours together without access to minimum facilities, even where the swab test is not done at Lakhanpur, literally making the back home travel a nightmare and that in most cases the social distancing is not maintained in the buses and temporary quarantine centers. For this reason as well, it is stated Jammu railway station with more than adequate facilities and spacious premises available in its vicinity, would make operating the Shramik Special Trains a better option. He has demanded that light vehicles proceeding to Valley from outside, be allowed to cross Lakhanpur and the screening of those travelling by these vehicles, be done at any station after the vehicles cross the Jawahar Tunnel so that the children, sick, old and infirm who usually use this mode of transport are not put to inconvenience because of endless wait in scorching heat at the entry point. Masoodi has requested the Lt Governor to review the entire evacuation mechanism in place, so that returnees face least inconvenience and their early evacuation and return is made possible. He has also demanded simple hassle free mechanism to permit movement of residents of Kashmir, Pirpanchal region and Chenab valley stuck in Jammu to their respective places.(KNS)