The second batch of bus drivers who were utilised in transportation of returnees back into the state have been sent for home quarantine on Tuesday after testing COVID-19 negative and on completion of their quarantine period.
Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) president H Ranjit told media persons on Tuesday that the transportation of stranded people into the state began on May 11 for the first time and about 25,000 stranded people have been transported so far.
“Over 171 bus drivers and co-drivers were utilised in the transportation. More than 100 bus drivers and co-drivers were engaged in the first batch while for the second batch about 71 bus drivers and co-drivers. All of them have tested COVID-19 negative,” he added.
Ranjit said that the second batch of drivers raised the slogan, “COVID-19 na maithire, Bus Driver na mai pak a, TDC na mai pak a” (COVID-19 has been defeated, bus drivers have won, TDC has won) on the last day of the quarantine period.
While informing that the drivers and co-drivers have been sent to their homes with instructions to continue home quarantine, he appealed to the bus drivers and co-drivers to strictly follow the protocols of WHO when they continue home quarantine.
The TDC president further urged the people not to stigmatise the bus drivers and co-drivers, with whose selfless services, the stranded people were able to reach their home safely.
Ranjit said that transport drivers have been facing problems after Jiribam police station and some areas of the district have been declared containment zones. As such, he appealed to the drivers to follow the protocols by wearing face masks, use hand sanitisers and follow other safety measures when they are being stopped for checking.
As the transport drivers were also screened at the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) near Khuman Lampak, he urged the state medical department to increase the screening windows to avoid waiting in long queues. He also said that TDC is an apex body of only transporters and drivers without businessmen, who are taking advantage in the name of transportation.
