Thousands gathered at a mumbai station after rumour of special train

After taking into account all suggestions, the centre on Sunday announced an extension of the current lockdown till May 31. The fourth phase of the shutdown will commence from May 18. However, the Maharashtra government has issued lockdown 4.0 guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID 19 infection.

As per the new guidelines, e-commerce activity for essential as well as non-essential items and material have been permitted in red zones. All industrial units/construction sites are allowed to operate in the red zones. Stadiums and other public places will remain open for individual exercises in non-red zones, spectators and group activities are strictly not allowed.

Meanwhile, A massive crowd, including women, children, with their bags on their heads and backs, gathered at the station on rumours of special trains to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

As soon as rumours were spread by unknown people that special trains would be run from the Bandra railway station for labourers, thousands of people thronged the Bandra station in the hope of reaching their homes in far-flung areas.

After hearing news, migrant labourers started arriving at Bandra railway station at around 9 am but in just few hours there were around 4,000-5,000 labourers had gathered at the station.

According to sources, migrants received phone calls from police station informing about special trains being arranged for them from Mumbai. While thousands were waiting outside Bandra Railway Station, around 1,000 people who had registered themselves were allowed to board the shramik special train. Later, the crowd was dispersed by the police.

Four people have been arrested by cops who are accused of spreading the rumours about special trains being run for migrants. It is to be noted that lockdown has created a stir in Mumbai. The government, on the other hand, is trying its best to provide rudimentary facilities, but hordes of people gathered at the station which resulted in the violation of lockdown.

People have been suggested to stay at home amid shutdown. In the photo, Bandra station can be seen flooded with a huge crowd gathered. The police requested everyone to go back to their home.

The nationwide closure has created a panic situation in the country, especially for homeless people and daily wage workers, who migrate to big cities from their home towns in search of jobs, are combating hunger for survival. They can not even go back to their villages as they are stuck in cities.

Writer, historian, and activist Dharam Sikarwar is a very active author The Youth. He writes on national and international issues, environment, politics. He is an avid book reader as well.