Delhi Lockdown: Nearly 8 Lakh Migrants Left Delhi In First 4 Weeks Of Shutdown, Says Report

Delhi Lockdown Latest News Today 22 May 2021: To contain the spread of the virus in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had first imposed a lockdown on April 19 which was later extended multiple times, lastly on May 16.

New Delhi: As the coronavirus cases are declining in the national capital, a report from the Delhi Transport Department suggested that over eight lakh migrant workers left the national capital in the first four weeks of the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report also stated that between April 19 and May 14, a total of 8,07,032 migrant workers left Delhi for their home states in buses, out of which 3,79,604 left during the first week of the lockdown itself. The number started declining from thereon, 2,12,448 left in the second week, 1,22,490 in the third week and 92, 490 in the fourth week.

“The timely coordination with transport authorities of neighbouring states, especially Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand by the Government of NCT of Delhi has helped about eight lakhs migrant workers to reach their destination without any difficulty,” the report added.

To contain the spread of the virus in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had first imposed a lockdown on April 19 which was later extended multiple times, lastly on May 16.

Learning from the past experience of the first surge of pandemic in March 2020 when the city experienced heavy movement of migrant workers to their native places, the state Transport Department this time had deputed an adequate number of buses to facilitate migrant workers to reach their destination.

“Transport department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi prepared a plan for deployment of 500 cluster buses on interstate routes under emergency. There was no complaint of overcharging as the interstate buses were owned and operated by state governments,” the report said.

Delhi reports 2260 new #COVID19 cases, 6453 recoveries and 182 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 14,15,219
Total recoveries 13,60,898
Death toll 23,013

Active cases 31,308 pic.twitter.com/lUlRHkPo0v

— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2021

The report also stated that the train travel was a preferred mode by migrants in the current lockdown as trains were operational unlike the last year’s coronavirus-induced lockdown in March.