a large number of migrant workers who earn daily wages came out on roads across India demanding transport arrangements to go back to their native places.

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown till May 3, a large number of migrant workers who earn daily wages came out on roads across India demanding transport arrangements to go back to their native places.

In a repeat of shocking scenes from when the lockdown was first announced by the Union government, migrants across the country once again set off to reach their hometowns in huge numbers, violating orders to stay at home.

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown till May 3, a large number of migrant workers who earn daily wages came out on roads on Tuesday demanding transport arrangements to go back to their native places.

BANDRA

The biggest such incident was reported from Mumbai’s Bandra West, where flocks of migrant labourers gathered outside the railway station, hoping to go home as they had no jobs, no money and no source of food.

Daily wage earners, numbering around 1,000, assembled at suburban Bandra (West) bus depot near the railway station and squatted on road at around 3 pm.

Videos and images showing hordes protesting outside the Bandra station soon went viral on social media.

Heavy police deployment was made at the site to tackle any untoward incident.

Initially, the police asked local community leaders to help convince the crowd to leave the area but when the labour refused to disburse, the police resorted to lathicharge.

A police official said the migrants were dispersed two hours later and have been assured accommodation and food till the lockdown lasts.