Coronavirus Lockdown- Special Buses Sent To Get 900 South Indian Pilgrims From Varanasi

On Tuesday, the nation outraged after hundreds of migrant labourers gathered in large numbers at Bandra station after a false news report said that trains were running.

While this news has been running, it appears that the Uttar Pradesh government violated rules a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the lockdown extension till May 3.

Around 900 pilgrims – mostly from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala – had made a trip to Varanasi before the Centre issued the three-week lockdown and Janta curfew.

According to Kushal Raj Sharma, the district magistrate of Varanasi, the stranded people, which he says are 700-800 and not 900, had approached their respective MPs, as well as the Centre for clearance to go back home

The cost of the bus ticket to go back home was around Rs 4,000. Those who could not afford this were asked to stay back in ashrams in Varanasi. The district magistrate added that all the passengers were put through screening, adding that RTPCR test (the test usually done for coronavirus) was not necessary, as all the individuals displayed any of the symptoms

All the pilgrims have reached home, and have been advised another 3-4 days of quarantine.