Migration from Mumbai again: Police showered batons, but the workers of UP-Bihar remained at the station overnight; Said - if the lockdown is imposed, you will die of hunger here

Posted on 7th Jan 2022 by rohit kumar

We have all seen heart-wrenching pictures of migrants returning home from big cities after a sudden lockdown in the first wave of Corona. In the third wave of the epidemic, a similar sight is being seen once again. Migrant laborers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have camped at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai. Most of the trains going to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar leave from here. A large number of migrants from Mumbai belong to these areas.

 

Migrants had to eat police batons at the railway station, did not even get a train ticket. Despite this, he did not move from there. The reason was clear. If there is a lockdown in Mumbai, then they will die of hunger. In such a situation, everyone is trying to reach their villages and homes before the lockdown. More than 20 thousand cases of corona have been found in Mumbai in the last 24 hours. In such a situation, the migrants and especially the laborers are very scared due to the fear of lockdown.

 

From Thursday night itself, a crowd of migrants started gathering at Lokmanya Tilak station in Mumbai. The Bhaskar reporter stayed with them from 9 pm on Thursday to 9 am on Friday to know how people are struggling to go home in the third wave. Read the report of these 12 hours.

 

People reached the station a night before due to fear of lockdown

 

The crowd started increasing at Mumbai's Lokmanya Terminus from 8 pm on Thursday. It consisted mostly of working-class people, who had reached the station late at night for fear of lockdown for the Friday morning train. He said that if he stays here, he will face the danger of dying of hunger. So what to do while staying here?

 

People reach the station only after carrying goods on their heads

 

We stayed at Lokmanya Tilak station from 9 pm on Thursday to 9 in the morning. The process of increasing the crowd which started from the night continued in the morning as well. Slowly the crowd started increasing at night. Workers with sacks, bags, and briefcases, buckets on their heads started reaching Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. Most of the trains were at or after 5.25 am, but people reached the station at night only amid the panic of the lockdown.

 

When he reached the station, the police stopped him from going inside.

 

When they started going inside the station, the police did not let them inside. The police showed them the force of the stick and said, 'Why do you come to Bihar-UP when you have to run away. The helpless laborers sat in front of the station. The train was in the morning. When I arrived at night, I was worried about the ticket. No one has tickets. Everyone planned to climb into the general. If TC comes, the challan will be deducted. By deciding this, the workers moved towards the platforms.

 

Spent the night outside the station hungry and thirsty

 

As the night progressed, a camp of hundreds of people of UP-Bihar started appearing outside Lokmanya Tilak station. Hungry and thirsty, everyone was worried about reaching home somehow. Some were lying, some were sitting. There were only one question in everyone's words, faces, and eyes - when will you reach home? He also had reasons for this confusion. Most of the workers had neither tickets nor food.

 

Police stationed to protect are raining batons

 

Everyone outside the station was confused about the ticket and the train. There is no one to explain to them the situation. If you go to the police, you get batons. Migrant laborers are surprised that for what mistake the police are responsible for the safety of the people is raining batons. The only announcement is being made at the station too that those without tickets should return.

 

Everyone has the same concern - don't get caught in the lockdown

 

Above hunger and thirst, there was only one concern on the faces of the people. To return home without getting stuck in lockdown. Some were asleep and some were awake. Some were waking up in fear that no one would carry any of their belongings. As soon as there was sleep between hunger and waiting, the police came and started raining sticks and said – wake up, this is not your home. After this everyone kept awake in fear.

 

When the entry was received in the morning, then the situation became like a stampede.

 

Amidst worry, fear, and compulsion, it was 4 a.m. and people gathered in front of the station. The gate opened at 4.15 in the morning and the workers got entry. At around 4:30, everyone was allowed to go on the platform. As soon as the workers reached inside, the chaos matched. Everyone started running here and there looking for the general compartment.

 

Social distancing missing, not even a mask

 

No scanning was being done outside and inside the station nor was social distancing visible. Many people were not even wearing masks. Many people boarded the train without tickets. Within minutes the general compartment was full. In such a situation, these trains of UP-Bihar can become the super spreader of Corona.

 

This cycle of fear and migration of people continues. If a situation of lockdown arises, then there was no such system at the station which could deal with the emergency. Neither doctors were present, nor social distancing was being followed, nor was there any arrangement for testing the workers.