Delhi: Migrant workers in very large numbers at Delhi’s Anand Vihar bus terminal, to board buses to their respective home towns and villages. They have walked to the bus terminal on foot from different parts of the city. pic.twitter.com/IeToP3hX7H
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020
Men, women and children were standing in a queue, almost 3 kms long as they were waiting to catch any bus to return to their respective villages in different parts of U.P, M.P and Bihar.
#WATCH Migrant workers in very large numbers at Delhi’s Anand Vihar bus terminal, to board buses to their respective home towns and villages pic.twitter.com/4nXZ1D1UNn
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2020
You fear the disease, living on the streets. But I fear hunger more, not corona.
We are from Mayayun village of Badaun district and work as a helper in a transport company. We have no savings and thus, it is difficult for us to survive in Delhi without money. We have also no money to pay our rent. So, I have decided to return to my village.
Mass gathering at Anand Vihar ISBT yesterday during Lockdown pic.twitter.com/luh4Ypllxs
— MoJo India | موجو انڈیا (@TheMoJoIndia) March 29, 2020
However, according to reports by TOI, only the U.P government made arrangements to bring migrants back home by arranging around 200 buses but, because the number of migrants outnumbered the number of seats, many were turned away.
The Anand Vihar bus station…. pic.twitter.com/qhEQ3rHHwW
— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) March 28, 2020
Even Twitter couldn’t believe what they were seeing. While some criticized the state government others were wondering why prior arrangements weren’t made for them:
It’s a failure of all especially the PM, because he announced the lockdown without any planning, without any arrangement for these migrant labourers, etc.
— Ishfaq Ahmad (@Darishfaq786Dar) March 28, 2020
2-3 days advance notice so that they can move to there village and carry the virus to remote area.
— Singh #flizian (@AlokSin20879366) March 28, 2020
I am still thinking what will happen when so much infected person will reach there village.
Delhi has a CM, it’s his responsibility to manage any issue related to corona virus in his state since PM had meetin with all the CMs. Look at Odisha CM, how he’s handlin the situation & for thatatter even Andhra CM!
— Michele (@Michele73643937) March 28, 2020
Bhai, this is a huge mistake on the part of Delhi Govt.
— Sachin Panwar सचिन पँवार 🇮🇳 (@RealSachin95) March 28, 2020
They should been provided buses to where they were before.
Be ready for a 70 days more extension 🤢🙏
— Piyu Nair 👩⚕️ 🇮🇳 (@Piyu_Nair) March 28, 2020
Why is this coming only from Delhi??? @ArvindKejriwal u need to answer this😤
— Prince Jaiswal (@Priince_19) March 28, 2020
Dear @narendramodi the whole country is under lock down..people are sacrificing a lot, but the situation in the country’s capital is a disaster.
— sandy (@lazychap12) March 28, 2020
Its been more than 24 hours but some workers are still stranded. While most of them are still looking for a means to get back home others, are walking thousand of miles with their families and their luggage since there is no other way.