Families torn, migrants await ride home

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 11

After standing in a long queue at the Sector 43 bus stand for being screened, a dejected Daddan Singh (34) returned home with his brother-in-law Bhim Singh (18) as he could not make it to the list of migrants boarding the ‘Shramik Special’ train to Gonda yesterday.

A small-time mason, Daddan was hoping to return and meet his wife at their village, while Bhim wanted to meet his parents and sister. They assembled at the bus stand at 10 am, hoping to head home finally. Even after three hours, their names did not figure anywhere. However, the name of Bhim’s maternal aunt was called. It gave some hope to Daddan and Bhim.

After 4 pm, they walked towards the station, but returned from Industrial Area. Both are still glued to their phones, hoping for an SMS. “We had registered ourselves for going back to our native place about three days ago. I received a registration number, but my name didn’t appear on the list,” said Daddan. The two, however, have not lost hope. “If the government has registered us, it will take us home too. We have no savings, no job. We just want to go home.”