The rescue of two youths from Lakhimpur, who were stranded near New Delhi Railway Station while walking back home from Punjab, has brought a sigh of relief in the district.
The youths have been identified as Santosh Borah (19) and Raja Doley (24).
Santosh is a resident of Pahumora on the outskirts of North Lakhimpur town and he was working in Amritsar in a factory.
He was sacked from his job due to the lockdown and this made Santosh decide to walk from there with his two companions.
However, the health condition of his companions deteriorated on way and they died in a hospital.
A lone Santosh was looted of his last remaining savings of Rs 2,000, identity documents and mobile phone on the way and somehow managed to reach New Delhi Railway Station on May 10 where he met another youth from Lakhimpur Raja Doley.
Raja is a resident of Madarguri village in Dhakuwakhona sub-division of Lakhimpur district and he was working in Delhi as a daily wage earner.
The lockdown made him stranded there with no money to come home.
The rescue of the two youths has been attributed to the instant intervention by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
After the plight of the two youths was widely reported by the media, CM Sonowal directed the Principal Resident Commissioner, New Delhi to rescue the two and provide them refuge in Assam Bhawan.
Santosh and Raja were rescued on the early hours of May 13 by a team from Assam Bhawan, Delhi. The rescue team took them to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for a check-up and for COVID-19.
Santosh and Raja are now being accommodated in Assam House, Delhi where they will stay till the COVID-19 test reports are available.
The two youths are expected to head home after completing the required medical protocols set in course for COVID-19 pandemic.
The public in Lakhimpur has lauded the move by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in rescuing the two youths of the district.