Ram temple issue: Ravi Shankar in touch with Imams, swamis

Bengaluru, Jun 8: Facing a shortage of labour, some top builders in the city have initiated efforts to bring back the migrant workers, who have returned to their native places following the COVID-19 lockdown, and are holding parleys with Railway authorities for operation of special trains to ferry them.

After the lockdown was announced, many construction projects came to a halt and accordingly the labourers were rendered jobless. These migrant workers preferred to go back to their home state as they were not paid when the projects were stopped and were caught in the big financial mess. Many of these migrants even chose to cover thousands of kilometres by foot when even trains, buses or any motor vehicles were not operating.

Keeping their woes in view, the Centre decided to run the Shramik Special trains to ferry them to their native places. But, after they were gone, the builders found themselves in a lurch. An executive of a builder told PTI "Yes, our builder and a few others are in talks with the Railways to run the special train to bring back the labourers." She said nothing has been materialised as of now.

According to her, the builders took the contact numbers of the workers when they left the city to their home states and are now contacting them one by one. The South Western Railway has so far sent 3.11 lakh migrant workers in 216 Shramik Special trains starting from May 3 to June 6.

Kasaragod, Jul 8: A 48-year-old man, who died on Tuesday, has tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

A native of nearby Mogral Puthur in Kasaragod district, Abdul Rahmn was running a business in Karnataka’s Hubli since long time.

He had recently returned to his hometown from Karnataka through Talapady border on the outskirts of Mangaluru.

Sources said, despite the man having acute fever, the authorities at the Talapady border not only took any action including informing the concerned, but allowed him to cross over the border in a vehicle.

He was rushed to Kasargod General Hospital soon after returning. Those who had accompanied him from Karnataka to Kerala are now under ouarantine.

Mangaluru, Jun 28: In an attempt to curb fast spreading Coronavirus and to bring discipline among the public to follow the guidelines and also as it was found difficult to control the visitors, the City Corporation Mayor Diwakar has ordered closure of the office for one week with immediate effect from Monday.

Public will be banned from entering the MCC building for a period of one week from Monday, he said.

In a circular the Mayor has requested the public to co-operate and help the administration to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

However, a help desk will be set up outside the MCC building where people can submit their applications and requests.