‘Will Die of Hunger Before COVID-19’: Lockdown Cuts Workers Adrift

With no job, money or food, and no means of transport, coronavirus lockdown forces migrant workers to go back home.

Mass exodus of migrant workers.

(Photo: PTI)

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj

Jobs lost, wages suspended, no means of transport, supplies running out and miles to go...

The 21-day nation-wide lockdown has forced thousands of migrant workers from across India to walk back home facing hardships on the way.

They have no option but to walk as there is no transport available after the announcement of lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

One of the migrant workers walking down the NH4 said, “We have lost our jobs, have been asked to vacate by our landlords. We are surviving on biscuits.”

Another migrant worker named Shivam said that he hadn’t eaten anything for three days. He also said that they were helpless as grocery prices have surged.

A group of migrant workers on the NH24 near Delhi-UP border.(Photo: PTI)

Adding insult to injury, policemen in UP's Badaun forced workers walking back home to crawl as punishment for violating lockdown.

Several daily-wagers have been left in the lurch.

Exodus of a group of migrant workers.(Photo: PTI)

Migrant workers from Bihar stuck in Ludhiana with no jobs and no salary pleaded to be rescued.

In a desperate attempt to attract attention, some daily wage workers in Punjab stood on the terrace and banged empty plates as they've run out of money and food.

Workers in Delhi appealed to the government with folded hands saying 'we'll die of hunger before we die of a disease'.