NEW DELHI: With several reports of migrant workers hitting the road to go back to their home states emerging in the last few days, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged them to stay back saying that the lockdown was going to be lifted soon.
Kejriwal also asked senior citizens to take precautions and stay at home as nearly 82% of the total Covid-19 fatalities were of people aged over 50. He added that the government would requisition ambulances from private hospitals to ensure that people don’t face any inconvenience because of shortage.
Addressing a digital press conference, Kejriwal said the images and videos of people walking on the roads for days without food or any help pained him. “This lockdown is going to end soon and everything will be back on track. You will soon be employed again. Please do not leave Delhi. My government will take care of your basic necessities,” he added.
Following the Union home ministry’s guidelines, Delhi government has allowed factories in industrial estates, construction projects and private companies to open, besides giving permission to work to self-employed service providers such as electricians, mechanics and domestic workers.
Delhi was under complete lockdown for over six weeks from March 25 to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading. However, with the Centre allowing stranded workers, pilgrims, students and tourists to be brought back to their native places on special trains and buses, a large number of migrants across the country have again hit the roads with their families.
While urging the migrants to stay back, Kejriwal said that his government would make arrangements for those who were still desirous to return to their home states. He added that Delhi government was in talks with the Centre to arrange for more trains.
“Migrant workers are still on the roads trying to get back home, but their condition is very unfortunate since they have been walking for days. They have not eaten anything for days and nobody is helping them on the way. This makes me feel that all governments and systems have failed,” Kejriwal said.
The chief minister added, “Please wait for a few days and do not walk to your homes like this. This is not safe. Some people lost their lives on the railway tracks and some died in a road accident. Please do not do anything that puts your lives at risk. We are here to take care of you.”
On Sunday, about 150 stranded migrants from Punjab were sent back in buses from a shelter in a government school at Nehru Vihar. Two trains carrying about 2,250 migrants left Delhi for Madhya Pradesh and Bihar last week.
A total of 6,923 Covid-positive have been reported till date in the capital. While 1,476 are in hospitals, the rest are either asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. Of those in hospitals, only 91 are in ICU and 27 on ventilator, Kejriwal said, adding 2,069 patients have been cured.
Kejriwal also asked senior citizens to take precautions and stay at home as nearly 82% of the total Covid-19 fatalities were of people aged over 50. He added that the government would requisition ambulances from private hospitals to ensure that people don’t face any inconvenience because of shortage.
Addressing a digital press conference, Kejriwal said the images and videos of people walking on the roads for days without food or any help pained him. “This lockdown is going to end soon and everything will be back on track. You will soon be employed again. Please do not leave Delhi. My government will take care of your basic necessities,” he added.
Following the Union home ministry’s guidelines, Delhi government has allowed factories in industrial estates, construction projects and private companies to open, besides giving permission to work to self-employed service providers such as electricians, mechanics and domestic workers.
Delhi was under complete lockdown for over six weeks from March 25 to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading. However, with the Centre allowing stranded workers, pilgrims, students and tourists to be brought back to their native places on special trains and buses, a large number of migrants across the country have again hit the roads with their families.
While urging the migrants to stay back, Kejriwal said that his government would make arrangements for those who were still desirous to return to their home states. He added that Delhi government was in talks with the Centre to arrange for more trains.
“Migrant workers are still on the roads trying to get back home, but their condition is very unfortunate since they have been walking for days. They have not eaten anything for days and nobody is helping them on the way. This makes me feel that all governments and systems have failed,” Kejriwal said.
The chief minister added, “Please wait for a few days and do not walk to your homes like this. This is not safe. Some people lost their lives on the railway tracks and some died in a road accident. Please do not do anything that puts your lives at risk. We are here to take care of you.”
On Sunday, about 150 stranded migrants from Punjab were sent back in buses from a shelter in a government school at Nehru Vihar. Two trains carrying about 2,250 migrants left Delhi for Madhya Pradesh and Bihar last week.
A total of 6,923 Covid-positive have been reported till date in the capital. While 1,476 are in hospitals, the rest are either asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. Of those in hospitals, only 91 are in ICU and 27 on ventilator, Kejriwal said, adding 2,069 patients have been cured.
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