Lockdown: Students embark on return journey to Odisha from Kota

Rourkela: As many as 116 students of Odisha’s Rourkela city, who were stranded in Kota, Rajasthan due to nationwide lockdown for coronavirus outbreak, boarded buses this morning to reach home.

As per information, the students boarded four buses around 10.15 am and embarked on a return journey to the steel city. The vehicles were disinfected properly before heading towards Odisha.

The students have spent Rs 4,000 each towards bus fare. On reaching Rourkela, they will undergo a mandatory quarantine of 14 days at Temporary Medical Camps.

The students through a video message had appealed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to ensure their safe return to the state, following which the state government said  it will help the students for their inter-state movement.

Informing about the government’s decision, senior IPS officer in-charge of coordinating with other states in regard to stranded Odia persons, Sarthak Sarangi said the students stuck in Kota will come back home after making their own arrangements while the Odisha government will provide vehicle permits and other arrangements for their inter-state movement.