Latur sheds tears of joy as water train arrives

 Amid cheers and tears, bursting of fire-crackers and distribution of sweets, the much awaited water-train carrying over five lakh litres of water reached Latur town on Tuesday.

“Train with drinking water arrives at #drought affected Latur early this morning. Distribution to begin soon,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted.
“This is a happy occasion. We have been waiting for this day. It is really a matter of joy for all of us. At the same time we are emotional as well,"  Latur Mayor Shaikh Akhtar Mistry said.

Latur district, located around 500 km away from Mumbai is facing the worst-ever drought in a century’s time, along with neighbouring districts of Beed and Osmanabad.
The train with 10 wagon tankers, reached around 5 am from Miraj, after covering a distance of nearly 350 km.

As the green-coloured train passed through the Ausa town, people burst fire-crackers in joy. Later when the train reached Latur station, it was an emotional moment, as people gathered hailed chief driver D P Wakde, assistant driver Kailash Kumar Singh and guard Prashant Janrao and welcomed them with flowers and offered them sweets. Latur collector Pandurang Pol and Latur municipal commissioner Sudhakar Tailang formally welcomed them.

“It was the first run of such a train in Maharashtra. The train arrived on schedule,” Pol said. “The train has brought relief for us,” said corporator Narendra Agarwal.

A few hours after the train arrived, supporters of the BJP climbed onto the train to plaster it with a poster thanking Fadnavis and Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu for making it possible.