Mass Exodus Of Migrant Workers At Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal

NEW DELHI: A huge gathering of migrant workers took place at the Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) in hopes of going back to their home town. This incident took place on 28 March 2020, despite Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India's lockdown orders which have been imposed nationwide.

Many of the gathered individuals travelled on foot for many kilometres as other means of local transport have been suspended in the city due to the national lockdown. 

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Many of them were asked the reason behind gathering in huge numbers during a time where social distancing is being practised heavily to avoid the spread of coronavirus. Many individuals replied that the ongoing pandemic is the least of their worries.

Yogesh Gangwar a cloth salesman got emotionally overwhelmed while saying, "What corona? My children are hungry, they have walked from Gurugram with me do you think corona is what I fear?"

Meanwhile, there were some who expressed regret for not acting on early.

"God knows when we will reach our hometown. My family was telling me to leave work early in March and get back, but I avoided suggestions and now I am stranded here," said Babu Ram, a worker in a plastic recycling factory from Rampur.

Some talked about the troubles of not being able to procure basic resources. Revati, a labourer from construction site mentioned, "There is no food to eat, I cannot pay rent of room without my daily wages so I decided to walk with my family from Narela to here. I just hope I get a bus soon."

The incident occurred as Yogi Adityanath's government from Uttar Pradesh declared that 1000 buses have been deployed to aid the labourers to reach their homes. Following this, a sea of migratory labourers gathered at the Anand Vihar ISBT to board a bus.

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The heartwrenching scene witnessed at the bust stop is reminiscent of 1942 partition, when the refugees embarked on migration along the borders.