Even As India Remains Under Lockdown, A Sea Of Humanity Is Converging At Bus Stations In Delhi
Unprecedented scenes are being played out in India for the past few days following the Covid-19 outbreak.On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide shutdown till the 14th of April to combat the spread of Covid-19.?
In his speech, Prime Minister Modi had specifically said that people should not move out and should remain where they are now.But what is happening in the country is quite the opposite, especially in big cities.?
Millions of migrant workers who come from across the country and had been living and working in cities like Delhi are on a reverse migration to their homes in the hinterlands. Most of them either used to work as daily wage workers or were employed in factories that have now been shut.?
With no income to support their families, and the uncertainty over the shut down many felt it was better to head home.But with train services suspended and other public transport including buses off the road, thousands have been hitting the roads since the past few days walking kilometers at a stretch.?
Many have to walk a few hundred kilometers which will take days before they make it home.?
"I used to work for PWD in Faridabad but had to pack my bags the moment PM Modi announced countrywide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus. I have been walking for the past three days and still, I have miles to go to reach my hometown Sidhauli," said Madan, one amongst a group of 15-16 who have been walking day and night to reach their homes as soon as possible.?
Since Saturday, many state governments, including Delhi, UP and Haryana have started providing buses for the migrants. The buses were all crowded and people jostled with each other for space, some even sat atop the buses.?
However, with such a large number of people travelling many said they have been waiting for hours but to no avail. Yashwant Mishra, one of the several people waiting at the Kaushambi bus stand said, "I have to go to Sultanpur but it has been hours for us waiting for a bus."?
Echoing similar sentiments, Santosh Kumar said that the UP Police had even lathi-charged the people waiting at the Anand Vihar bus stand. "Earlier, I was waiting at the Anand Vihar bus stand when the police forced us to leave and now I am at the Kaushambi bus stand waiting for a bus to go to Azamgarh."
