Fearing a fresh lockdown in view of the surging Covid-19 cases, a large number of migrant workers from Tamil Nadu and Kerala have gathered at the Chennai Central railway station. Among those heading back home is 24-year-old Badhal Das, who worked in Kerala. He, along with 10 others, reached Chennai Central railway station on Sunday night.
“I heard there’s going to be a lockdown. Before it becomes difficult for us to get food, we want to leave. We were in Kerala, and we came to know that there could be another lockdown so we decided to leave. We will come back again for the next year’s season but not before that,” said Das.
The trauma of last year’s lockdown is still fresh in their minds. Another worker, Zulfikar, claims the fear of getting stuck during another lockdown has gripped most of the migrant workers.
“In news, we can see that many have tested Covid-19 positive. They have given new guidelines and if lockdown is announced we will be stuck and that’s why we are leaving”, said Zulfikar.
Officials from Southern Railways have assured that trains are available in adequate numbers.
To curtail the spread of Covid-19, the Tamil Nadu government has announced multiple restrictions from April 20. They include a night curfew between 10 pm and 4 am and a complete lockdown on Sundays.