Punjabis from Gujarat stuck at border

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, March 30

Several Punjabis, who covered about 1,134-km distance from Bharuch in Gujarat in four days using different modes of transport, are stranded in Sriganganagar. They are keen to unite with their families. With six new cases reported in the past two days, the total number of positive cases has risen to 53 in Gujarat.

As the district has been sealed due to fresh advisories on the lockdown, these Punjab residents were reportedly told to stay near the Sadhuwali barrier, about 33 km from here. The administration is mulling their screening to ascertain their health condition. As the stranded persons had no valid pass to travel through the curfew-bound state, they may not be allowed to cross the barrier.

Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Sewa Samiti volunteers have reached out to them to provide potable water and food, chief sevadar Tejinder Pal Singh Timma said. Volunteer Lovpreet Singh Brar said, “We had launched free kitchen on March 22 to help needy families who had been affected due to the lockdown. We will also take care of Punjabis from Gujarat till they get permission to enter Abohar.”