Chaos in UP Transit Centre as Workers Try to Collect Bananas

Distribution of the bananas was reportedly stopped once chaos broke out at the transit centre.

The terrible plight of migrant labourers is once again out there for all to see after a video emerged from a transit camp in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. In the video, many workers can be seen rushing to the gate to grab their share of bananas from an official wearing a mask. In their rush to grab a banana, workers can be seen jostling to get to the front of the gate.

A quarantine centre in Prayagraj. Why are we dehumanising migrants? Is this social distancing? Shameful. Who will answer - @dm_prayagraj @prayagraj_pol and @Uppolice - do you follow up? I tweeted another video but no response. @myogiadityanath @CMOfficeUP @narendramodi @rahat_up pic.twitter.com/n725MfFCsn

— Vikas Pandey (@BBCVikas) May 1, 2020

The video was uploaded on social media by journalist Vikas Pandey who tweeted to UP CM Yogi Adityanath and the state police.

Some of the migrant workers in the video were not even wearing masks and with many of them gathered near the gate, social distancing too was thrown out the window.

The distribution of bananas was reportedly stopped immediately after chaos ensued. It was later resumed when the migrants boarded a bus and sat on their respective seats.

Clarification from Allahabad DM:
It had happened at a transit centre where migrant workers from MP were “taking rest”. Banana distribution stopped immediately after the chaos started. Later it was distributed when the migrants boarded the bus and sat on their respective seats. https://t.co/cqGibYk4NW

— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) May 1, 2020

After weeks of lockdown saw thousands of migrant labourers walk hundreds of kilometres to get back home, the Centre only recently gave its nod for the movement of special trains to take stranded migrant workers back home to their respective states.