Covid-19 lockdown: Migrants walk the last mile on NH-30 in Patna

PATNA: National Highway-30 passing along the southern periphery of Patna is dotted with tens of hundreds marching on foot from far off states like Rajashthan, Maharashtra and New Delhi to return to their homes in different districts in Bihar. Walking with swollen legs, or stuffed in trucks, all these migrants have painful stories of their journey.
They recall how they have spent nights on roadside with empty stomach and how few have to bribe truck drivers to allow them to get on to the truck. Several of them had not eaten proper food, but were surviving on biscuits and fruits they were given on the way.
A 20-year-old Rohit Kumar, native of Biharsharif in Nalanda, who worked in a furniture workshop at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, started his journey back home around nine days ago with some co-workers.
“Initially we walked on foot and then somewhere on the outskirts of Rajasthan we got a truck which dropped us at Buxar. I am walking from last three days,” said Rohit.
With no phone, Rohit said his parents don’t even know whether he was alive or dead. “I was using my friend’s phone, but from Buxar we parted ways”. He then showed his wounded legs and added, “Now it is difficult to walk. Can you arrange for some vehicle?” He had bought two cucumbers for Rs 10 to survive for rest of the journey.
A 40-year-old Ashfarul, who worked as a rickshaw puller in New Delhi, left for Bihar around five days ago. Ashfrul walked till Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border for a day and then got onto a truck, which dropped him at Gonda. He again walked for another day, after which police helped him get into another truck, which was coming to Patna. “Now, I have to figure out how I will reach my village in Purnea,” he said.
A 25-year-old Vijay Kumar, who was getting down from a jam-packed truck on NH-30 also known as new bypass road in Patna, said their group of 12 had to pay Rs 3500 each to come from Pune. “With great difficulty we arranged for this truck on May 10. We all paid Rs 3500 each to come till Patna. Some of us have to go to Purnea and some to Darbhanga, we will move separately,” said Vijay, who worked in an automobile workshop in Pune.
However, even after suffering all hardship, these migrants recalled all those who had helped them. “There are good people too. We got some food on the way and we can never forget those who helped us in such bad times,” said Gautam Kumar who had come from Mahauli in Chandigarh. Another Sumit Kumar who worked as a salesman in Kanpur added, “I was stuck on UP border and few cops helped me in getting on this truck.”
Few cops on zero mile on NH-30 could be seen arranging for transportation for migrants who were dropped by the trucks and those who had come walking.