Migrant workers returning home from Mumbai in packed trains due to Covid restrictions.
Amid an enormous spike in COVID-19 circumstances in Maharashtra, migrant workers have began returning to home fearing one other lockdown could possibly be imposed by the federal government. The Uddhav Thackeray authorities has already introduced a slew of restrictions, together with night time curfews and weekend lockdowns, until April 30 to curtail the fast unfold of an infection. The western state reported as many as 56,000 circumstances in the final 24 hours, highest by any state. A complete of 376 folks misplaced their lives due to an infection.
The restrictions have compelled migrant workers to return home. News company ANI reported that vast crowds are seen at a number of Mumbai railway stations the place labourers throng to catch trains for his or her hometown. Long-distance trains departing from Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) are closely packed with scores of migrant workers.
The reverse migration has caught the eye of the administration. The Central Railways on Wednesday introduced to run particular trains to ferry migrants who’re planning to head again to their hometown. The nationwide transporter has additionally elevated the frequency of trains which might be heading in the direction of northern states.
“Passengers are additionally suggested to adhere to all norms, customary working procedures (SOPs) associated to Covid-19 throughout boarding, journey and at vacation spot,” Shivaji Sutar, CPRO, Central Railways, stated.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) too has taken account of the scenario and reached out to the native administration to stop one other reverse migration of workers. The PMO, native administration and Railways are engaged on an elaborate plan to stop the exodus of labourers from main cities, together with Mumbai. The PMO is anxious concerning the migrant workers and needs to stop mass exodus of workers which resulted in lack of jobs and human miseries final 12 months.
A migrant employee who was travelling in an Uttar Pradesh certain practice from Mumbai advised information company ANI, “This train will go to Gorakhpur. We are leaving the city because COVID-19 cases are rising.”
“We are leaving for our hometown in Uttar Pradesh. As of now, there’s a night time curfew in place. It may be very doubtless {that a} lockdown will likely be put into place. To keep away from chaos just like the earlier lockdown, we’re travelling again to our native place. Not certain when, whether or not we are going to come again,” one other migrant employee advised ANI.
Meanwhile, Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam has stated that the state authorities will not be planning a whole lockdown and due to this fact migrants shouldn’t rush again.
“Many of them fear that a lockdown will be imposed in the state due to rising Covid cases. However, our state government has no such plans. We do not want businesses or small businessmen to incur losses. Many of them have not even got themselves tested for Covid-19 and have boarded the train illegally. We are looking into the situation. However, I can assure you that none of them can return back to our state without showing a Covid negative report,” he stated.
In one other associated growth, the Central Railway on Friday introduced to droop the platform ticket facility at a number of Mumbai stations.
Maharashtra reported 56,286 new Covid-19 circumstances, 36,130 recoveries, and 376 deaths in the final 24 hours, the state well being division knowledgeable on Thursday. Out of 56,286 new Covid-19 circumstances in Maharashtra, 8,938 circumstances have been reported in Mumbai and 12,090 in Pune.
According to the info of Union Health Ministry, India on Friday recorded an enormous surge of 1,31,968 Covid-19 circumstances in the final 24 hours. With this, India’s tally now stands at 13,060,542. India is now the 4th-worst hit nation in phrases of energetic circumstances. As many as 780 folks succumbed to the an infection, highest since October 18, taking the dying toll to 1,67,642.
(With inputs from ANI)
