NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, APRIL 17
A special train with approximately 950 army personnel who have completed professional courses at Army training establishments at Bengaluru, Belgaum, and Secundrabad and due to rejoin units deployed in operational areas in North India has started from Bengaluru on Friday. All personnel have undergone a mandatory quarantine period and are medically fit. The train is scheduled to reach the destination on Monday, a Defence release said.
All possible precautions as part of COVID-19 management including the disinfection of the platform, bogies, and baggage was carried out in addition to the establishment of a sanitisation tunnel. social distance was ensured while entraining and screening.
The second train to cater to the transportation of army personnel to units deployed in the Northeastern part of the country is scheduled later.
Recently, the Indian Army had issued detailed instructions to its personnel and formations in compliance with the country’s second phase of lockdown which lasts till May 3. All military establishments, cantonments, formation headquarters, and units will observe strictly ‘No Movement’ till April 19 and only personnel connected with the provision of essential services will be allowed to move in this period.
However, this will not hinder any operational tasks of the formations or units which will be conducted with the requisite strength. As per the instructions, till April 19, within the Army Headquarters (HQ), only the Military Operations, Military Intelligence, Operational Logistics, and Strategic Movement branches will function, to carry out operational and COVID-19 related tasks. However, the duration of stay and strength within these branches will be at a bare minimum.