Stuck at highways, no sigh of relief for daily wage workers

New Delhi: There is no sigh of relief for daily wage workers who found themselves trapped on highways and arterial roads of the national Capital after the adjoining borders were sealed by the Delhi Police on Sunday.

The sequence of event has left labourers in dilemma due to lack of transportation to return back to their places. Despite all attempts by the government and police to provide succor to migrants, many of them were left unattended. They

expressed resentment over apathy of the concerned authority in providing food and shelter to them in such situation, saying that their children may die of starvation.

A majority of them said that despite earlier announcement to take them to their destinations, they have deliberately been forced to struggle on the roads.

While returning on their own, the labourers said that they are fed up with the flip flop played by government agencies. Earlier they were told that they would be taken to their native places and once they reached the bus terminuses, borders were sealed.

"Earlier we reached Ghazipur border where we were told that transportation facility is available at Lal Kuan. When we walked there, we found that the area is sealed with no availability of bus. Now since there is no option left, we are going back to Delhi on our own feet," said Mahesh, a Badaun's resident.

His wife, who had two daughters on her shoulder, said that she is tired since no one is here to take care of the family. "We have two children who have not taken meal since Sunday morning since we left our place for Ghazipur border. On Monday morning, we were asked to travel a few more kilometers in UP where vehicles were running. When we reached, we were forced not to stay there. No authority has till now provided a single packet of food to us," she narrated her ordeal.

Yamuna Expressway has also the same situation as people were seen returning. Earlier many of the migrants had taken the route but since borders were sealed they are coming back to Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad.

An official while monitoring their movement said that people in groups are still hither and thither and hence they are being asked not to walk along expressway. "The need of the hour is to maintain social distancing between those who left homes earlier. We have been arranging food items in

various pockets and are requesting them to cooperate," said the official.

Anand Vihar bus terminus, Kapashera border, Burari, DND flyway and other bordering areas, which had seen massive gatherings earlier, witnessed fewer people on Monday and majority of them were with their families. Among them majority were returning back after assurance of administration to take care of their concerns during the lockdown period.

"Though we are exhausted, we wanted to go back. No bus is available here and hence we will have to walk back again," said one of the labourers.