Bhubaneswar: After over 200 people, who were stranded in Surat due to the nationwide lockdown, reached Ganjam district in four buses in wee hours today, 171 more persons are returning to the state from the city in three buses.

After taking permission from the Surat District Magistrate, the three buses with 57 persons each left for Odisha this morning. While two buses are heading to Shyamsundarpur village under Tihidi block in Bhadrak district, the other bus is carrying 57 stranded labourers to Gangapur in Ganjam district.

However, Bhadrak Collector Gyana Das said the returnees have not registered their names on the state Government's COVID-19 portal for their return. However, once they arrive, necessary steps will be taken as per the state Government's instructions, he added.

In wee hours today, four buses carrying a total of 217 migrant workers,who were stranded in Surat due to nationwide lockdown, reached Seragarh and Dharakote in Ganjam district . After they arrived, primary health screening of all of them was conducted. They were later quarantined at two temporary medical camps set by the Government in Seragarh and Dharakote.

Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange also requested the people of the district not to gather near the quarantine centres and also warned of stringent action against those violating the order.