Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, May 11: Some residents from Attavar and nearby areas of Mangaluru railway stations, have alleged that several railway employees who had left for Kerala before lockdown had returned illegally to the station and have been residing in rented homes without following any quarantine guidelines.

Sources claimed that a few days ago, a group of employees came back from Kerala and started to stay clandestinely at a rented home near Vaidhyanath Nagar, Attavar. A lady who works for the health department noticed the return of the workers from Kerala, and informed the department.

Mangaluru Central railway station (file photo)

As per information, the officials visited the house and instructed all the inmates to undergo quarantine. But locals claimed that the worker in whose name the house was rented, was not there at the time of officials’ visit and that he has not undergone quarantine. Locals allege that he has been freely roaming around in the city. They have demanded for the immediate arrest of the person and putting him into compulsory quarantine.

The residents near the railway stations also allege that majority of railway employees especially from Kerala commute to Kerala regularly to save rent. For this, they follow the practice of completing their split duty in a single shift by working for long hours. Then they go to their hometowns for two days rest without mentioning leave in attendance register. In similar fashion, many employees who went to Kerala had got stuck there due to the unexpected lockdown. When the administration noticed the absence of employees for several days, an enquiry was conducted. As per rule, railway employees should reside within a radius of five kilometres from the railway station. After preliminary enquiry, a few who went to their hometowns without applying leave or informing higher officials were instructed to join for work. Fearing suspension and action, many returned from Kerala illegally. Several of them returned in trains which left from Kerala to north Indian states carrying migrant workers.

The locals have demanded for an investigation into the matter based on attendance register, also the identification of employees from Kerala who returned to office after lockdown and those who staying in rented houses in the city. They also demanded for immediate quarantine of employees who are absconding from quarantine home at Vaidhyanath Nagar, Attavar here.