Berhampur, Nov 17: A special pilgrimage train carrying senior citizens from five districts of southern Odisha departed from Brahmapur Railway Station on Sunday. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida flagged off the train, which is headed toward Omkareshwar and Ujjain.

A total of 775 senior citizens, selected through an earlier application process for those aged between 60 and 75, are participating in this year’s pilgrimage. Of them, 438 are from Ganjam district, 72 from Gajapati, 91 from Kandhamal, 55 from Boudh and 119 from Nayagarh. To support the travellers, 25 escorts have also been deployed.

By early morning, pilgrims from various districts had started gathering near Platform No. 4 at Brahmapur station. The district administration conducted medical check-ups and arranged cultural programmes to entertain the participants. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were also provided by the administration. Excited about travelling outside the state, many pilgrims expressed their happiness ahead of the journey.

A special ceremony was organised under the chairmanship of Ganjam District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan. Among the dignitaries present were Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Mines, Commerce and Industries Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Chhatrapur MLA Krishna Chandra Nayak, Brahmapur MLA K. Anil Kumar, Kabisurya Nagar MLA Pratap Chandra Nayak, State Child Protection Commission Chairperson Babita Patra, Brahmapur SP Dr. Saravana Vivek M, Commissioner Prathamesh Aravind Rajasirke, and Tourism Department Additional Secretary Dr. Rudra Narayan Das.

Brahmapur Sub-Collector Abhinash Kumar, in-charge District Tourism Officer Prarth Sarathi Hansda, and several senior officials were also present during the event.