Exodus unstoppable, buses to ferry migrants

Tribune News Service

Ghaziabad, March 28

Initially, it seemed like a trickle and then over the last 24 hours it turned into a mass exodus of largely daily wage workers and labourers from Delhi to different parts of Uttar Pradesh, both to escape a sense of crawling helplessness in the wake of lockdown and gripping fear of Covid-19.

• Also read: UP Govt arranges buses for migrants

The sight of people with children and family in tow, carrying meagre belongings deciding to walk to faraway places triggered a furore on social media over the apathy of the government not caring for those at the lower rung of the ladder.

The UP Government stirred into action and decided to deploy its buses to transport the migrants who began streaming in since Friday at the Delhi-UP borders. As the news spread, by Saturday evening the crowds swelled, with one ballpark figure putting the number anywhere up to 10,000 people jostling with each other. Information available with the district authorities said since Friday night over 200 buses were pressed into service from three different depots — Kaushambi, Lal Kuan and Noida, and over 100 buses today, but attempts not to publicise in order not to trigger more joining migration proved futile.

With the numbers increasing by the hour, reports said roadways buses would continue to be in operation to clear the assembly even as the Delhi Government made attempts to reassure that all those residing in shanties could be relocated to schools and served food even if they chose to stay back.

The police made efforts to streamline the passengers, but as the hour crawled, impatience began taking over as many threw to wind the much-popularised social distancing norms. However, buses were not meant to reach everyone out as The Tribune found out at Kaushambi where a number of families were stuck. “We are here since morning and. There is no bus to Hardoi,” said Rajaram who walked from the neighbouring Maharajpur border with his family in a tow.

Sumit with a family and close relatives too wanted to go to Hardoi and waited amid conflicting views whether they should brave it the 380-km walk with three children, some foodstuff in their bags. “There is no work here and I do odd jobs to support my family...have no money left better to go home...” he said, looking uncertain as others said

may be they wait till evening and return to their tenement in Delhi.

Well Kapil and Rohit were fortunate to get on to a bus that promises to drop them to Moradabad from where Rohit hopes to get some transport to Chandausi, some 50 km away.

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