New Delhi, March 23 (IANS): Even as thousands of passengers were left stranded at railway stations across India in the wake of suspension of train services, the Indian Railways on Monday announced relaxation in the time limit prescribed for passengers to stay in its retiring rooms.
This relaxation shall be in force till normal train services resume.
"It has been brought to our notice that certain passengers were lodged in railway retiring rooms and supposed to travel by train in a day or two, but are now stuck as all trains stand cancelled and they have nowhere else to go.
"So, the Railway Board has decided that in all such cases, the stay may be extended in supersession of the relevant rule that limits the number of days passengers can stay in retiring rooms," a senior Railway Ministry official here said.
The decision comes in the wake of suspension of all public transport across the country due to coronavirus scare.
"All station masters will be conveyed this instruction quickly for the benefit of stranded passengers," he added.
In view of the ‘Janata Curfew' called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi between 7 am and 9 pm on Sunday, trains that began their journeys before the morning limit will reach their destinations.
Services of over 13,600 trains, including passenger, mail and express, were suspended from Sunday midnight to March 31. Only freight trains shall operate to ensure supply of essential items.
On Monday, the total number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 384, with seven casualties.