Farakka: Amid the nationwide lockdown, 19 migrant labourers from Kolkata decided to walk all the way to their homes in Bihar's Barsoi.
As the lockdown got extended and the steelworks in the Sealdah area of the metropolis shut down, they were left with no other alternative, but to return.
“Without money, food and any job, we couldn't sustain ourselves in Kolkata. We had to return home. Since there was no transportation available we decided to walk,” said one of the labourers.
The group reached Farakka today, walking for a little over 96 hours and covering a distance of 292 km. Barsoi is around 419 km from Kolkata by road.
“We had some savings, but that got exhausted soon after a week into the lockdown. The owner of the factory where we worked, didn't help much. That was when we decided to walk back home, but couldn't muster enough courage. This way we dragged for a few more days and finally, we took the call as there was no option left,” the visibly tired labourer said, while taking a break at Farakka.
“Our experience on the road has not been bad till now. We were stopped at many locations by residents as well as the police, but nobody harassed us. Some of them even helped us with food and money. Now, we just want to reach home,” he added.
Many migrant labourers have been rendered jobless and without money due to the countrywide lockdown and closure of their workplaces.
The hapless workers are left with little or no choice and are walking long distances back to their homes and villages as no public transport is available.
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