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    Migrant workers crowd Anand Vihar bus terminus to return to their villages

    Synopsis

    The nationwide lockdown has rendered them unemployed and subsequently, they are desperate to return to their native places despite being informed about the danger the country faces due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

    India lockdown: Migrant workers in very large numbers at Delhi's Anand Vihar bus terminal
    Amid the nationwide lockdown in the wake of pandemic coronavirus, thousands of migrant workers flocked at Anand Vihar Interstate-state Bus terminus on Saturday afternoon.

    Carrying their children and bags, migrant workers, including women, were standing in a long queue of about 3 km in front of the Anand Vihar bus terminus in the hope to catch any bus to return to their distant villages located in UP’s different parts. Several migrants were also from states like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

    The nationwide lockdown has rendered them unemployed and subsequently, they are desperate to return to their native places despite being informed about the danger the country faces due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

    “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 villages,” Ajay (21), who was accompanied by his eight friends, told ET near Anand Vihar Bus terminus. They reside in Delhi’s Mandawali area.

    No different is the story of Kamta Prasad who is from Madhya Pradesh’s Tikamgarh area near Jhansi. “I work as a labourer at construction sites. With the announcement of countrywide lockdown, I became unemployed. I know it would be not easy for me to survive in Delhi in the next 18 days of lockdown. I have only about Rs 1000 as my savings and I want to spend it on my journey from Delhi to my native place,” Raghubar, who was accompanied by his younger brother, Kamta Prasad said. According to him, he has planned to catch a bus for Jhansi in UP. “If I reach Jhansi, I can walk to my village in MP from there easily. Tikamgarh is close to UP’s Jhansi district,” he replied to a question regarding possible non-availability of bus for Madhya Pradesh from Anand Vihar terminus.

    Most of them are construction labourers, tailors (sewing jobs), carpenters, masons and factory workers.


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