As part of the Senior Citizens Pilgrimage Scheme, a special train departed today from Bhubaneswar railway station for Ayodhya and Varanasi. At platform no. 1, Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Prabhati Parida flagged off the special train.

According to reports, 108 pilgrims from Dhenkanal, 127 from Puri, 197 from Cuttack, 169 from Khordha, 89 from Kendrapara, and 85 from Jagatsinghpur have set out for Ayodhya. A total of 775 senior citizens are part of the pilgrimage, accompanied by 25 escort guides. The government has provided all arrangements along with a special kit for each pilgrim.

Earlier on Tuesday, the pilgrims had arrived in Bhubaneswar from their respective districts. For them, the government had made special arrangements at five temporary accommodations — Capital High School, Unit-9 Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools, Bharat Scouts and Guides, and the Bheemabhoi Government High School for the Visually Impaired.