Uttar Pradesh: ‘Truck driver charged Rs 3,500 each for family of four’

LUCKNOW: As unbearable May heat with temperature over 40 degrees making foot march difficult, many migrant workers are forced to pay Rs 2,5000-3,500 to travel on truck, packed like sardines, to their home districts.
“Despite paying fare six times than train, we were stuffed in the truck with no space even to stretch arms. The truck drivers are not carrying any good, but using the crisis to make money,” said Ram Kishor, who claimed to have paid Rs 3,500 each for his family of four to travel from Mumbai to Pratapgarh.
Kishor was among over 10,000 migrants who were stopped by the police and administrative officers. Many came on foot and bicycle, but thousands arrived on trucks. They came from various states after losing jobs and heading to their native places.
“All were medically screened at three centres in the city and given food before being sent to their destinations on 200 UPSRTC buses without charging any fare,” said nodal officer and additional district magistrate KP Singh.
Ram Babu, a factory worker in Indore, told TOI, “When walking on foot with kids became impossible, I decided to get on a truck, but driver said he will charge Rs 2,500 each for five family members to take us till Basti. I paid him because there was no other option, but now I have nothing to feed my children.”
Ghanshyam, coming from Ahmedabad, who paid Rs 3,200 each for six family members for journey till Gorakhpur, said “My 3-year-old son got dehydrated as there was no space in the truck and the heat was unbearable.”