NEW DELHI : Faced with starvation and many ill, thousands of migrant workers in Maharashtra boarded buses and trains heading to homeward states. In mega cities of Delhi and Mumbai, large group of migrants took to foot-journey hoping to reach their native places dosens of kilometers away.
Most on foot-travel are among those unable to avail train or bus services. Modi government’s refusal to heed Opposition demand for minimal money credits into the accounts of those laid-off, has left migrants in the lurch. The Centre has announced only rations for a few months. And, with food supply chains frayed in several northern states, free rations are just not happening for scores of needy populations.
Meanwhile, with rail services reopened partially, hundreds of migrants from states all over are flocking to stations to catch train homeward. In Mumbai, thousands crammed into Bandra railway station looking for trains they might be able to board. In Delhi, over 15,000 workers stayed packed at Ghazhiabad railway station, unable to buy tickets for the Shramik trains meant exclusively for the migrants. That crowd, with hopes to board one of six trains bound for Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, are jammed close enough to share virus particles,
Elsewhere, several migrants in transit, including children, are increasingly getting killed in road accidents The long journey in extreme heat at times turns fatal for the weak, old and young children. Incidentally, temperatures have soared up to 40 degree in Uttar Pradesh.
