Chilahati-Haldibari rail link: India, Bangladesh reopen cross-border route after 55 years
Dhaka, Aug 1: Bangladesh and India on Sunday started regular operation of freight trains through the restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail route after over 55 years, which will strengthen railway connectivity and bilateral trade between the two countries.
The restored rail link was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on December 17, 2020.
The rail route between Haldibari (India) and Chilahati (Bangladesh) has been defunct for over 55 years.
It will also enhance rail network access to the main ports and dry ports to support the growth in regional trade to encourage economic and social development of the region, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Sunday.
The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link is the fifth rail link between Bangladesh and India that has been made operational, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported on Sunday.
The commodities that can be exported from India to Bangladesh through this rail route include stones and boulders, foodgrain, fresh fruits, chemical fertilizer, onion, chillies, garlic, ginger, fly ash, clay, limestone and wood.
From Bangladesh to India all exportable commodities are permitted.
Indian Railways dispatched the first freight train loaded with stones from Damdim station of Northeast Frontier Railway to Bangladesh, the report added.
After the Partition in 1947, seven rail links were operational between India and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) until 1965.
Presently, there are four rail links between Bangladesh and India that are operational.
They are Petrapole (India) - Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India) - Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India) -Rohanpur (Bangladesh), Radhikapur (India) - Birol (Bangladesh).
The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link is one such route that was operational till 1965.
The leadership of both Bangladesh and India are committed to reviving all the pre-1965 railway links between the two countries.
The restoration work was undertaken by the railways of both countries to revive this rail link.
The first goods train through Haldibari - Chilahati rail link to Bangladesh crossed the zero point at 16:35 hrs today. This rail link will encourage the economic & social development of the region and help in the growth of regional trade. pic.twitter.com/Ro4PZ00aWP
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
