Hundreds leave, Chandigarh Admin in denial

Kasim Khan and Feroz Khan had come to Chandigarh to work in the air-conditioner plant anticipating a spike in demand of ACs with the coming summer season.

Rasik Bihari, 36, a construction labourer from Patna, maintains, “My parents, wife and three children are in Patna. I was working under a construction contractor in Sector 67 but the construction was stopped last week. The contractor give me my all labour money. There is no point to stay here. Sab Kuch band rahega kai maheene tak (everything will remain shut for countless months).”

When asked about how he plans to travel to Patna, he said, “So many trucks are moving. Someone will give me lift. I am sure I will get something from Ambala.”

Ishant, 21, and Raza, 22, both from Muzzafarnagar had come to PGIMER in Chandigarh from UP on March 21, to fetch some medicines, but are now trapped in the city due to the curfew. “Since March 23 we are staying at the house of our common friend at Naya Gaon. But now we have decided to leave from here. I have money to pay the rent but there is no conveyance. I hope, we will get some conveyance from Ambala,” said Ishant.

Meanwhile, Principal Home Secretary, UT, Arun Gupta, said, “Till now, there is no migration of people from Chandigarh. We are urging people to not move and to instead stay at their places. We will definitely prevent people from moving from Chandigarh.”

The people, however, continue to move in hope of catching a bus from the UP border, which has been arranged by the UP government.