Hundreds of migrants, some of whom could not get a bus or train on Monday, when a week-long lockdown came into effect in Delhi, gathered at Anand Vihar to try again on Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, Pinki (26) and her husband left their home in Delhi’s Jhilmil Colony, filled with anxiety. The couple worked at a printing press near their home but were told by their employer that they won’t be paid during the lockdown and should consider leaving the city and returning when work resumes. With no savings, they borrowed money from their neighbours and left with their three children in search of a bus that could take them to Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh.

Standing with her children at Anand Vihar ISBT while her husband looked for a bus, Pinki said: “We are afraid we won’t get a bus today. My husband and I don’t have any savings left because our landlord forced us to pay the rent this month and our employers haven’t paid us anything in the last 20 days. How will we survive here if there’s a longer lockdown? The printing press produces school books and election posters but our employers didn’t pay us now because books aren’t being printed these days. Every time I see an election poster, I feel cheated. Nobody has helped us.”

“It’s been more than three hours now, I am tired but there are no buses. We can’t afford a private AC bus. Not that I want to stay in Sitapur because we won’t get a permanent job there. I wish schools reopen soon so I can print books again,” she said.