Delhi enters day 2 of week-long Covid-19 lockdown amid exodus of migrant workers

Police commissioner SN Shrivastava appealed to people to remain inside their homes and assured them that essential items will be available.

Delhi has entered the second day of its week-long curfew on Wednesday as the Capital steps up its effort to stop the transmission of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases. Visuals shared by news agency ANI showed Delhi Police officials checking vehicles and IDs of people inside cars as they tried to ensure strict implementation of the curfew. The weeklong curfew, which came to effect from 10pm on April 19 will continue till 5am, April 26.

Migrant workers wait for public transport to their native places amid fears of total lockdown due to the sharp spike in coronavirus cases, at Rajiv Chowk Bus Stand, in Gurugram. (Vipin Kumar / Hindustan Times)

The Delhi Police on Tuesday issued fines to several people who stepped out of their homes, though the number was not very high as the curfew in the capital has mostly received a positive response.

Police commissioner SN Shrivastava appealed to people to remain inside their homes and assured them that essential items will be available. “I appeal to the citizens of the national capital to stay inside their homes. Lockdown has been announced from 10 pm on Monday till 5 am on April 26. Essential commodities will be available,” Shrivastava said. People who were roaming unnecessarily were also issued challans and sensitised about Covid-19 preventative measures.

On Tuesday night, the Capital saw an exodus of migrant workers crowding the interstate bus terminals to leave for their native states. Despite assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech on Tuesday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and city police commissioner Shrivastava, workers are unsure about their future in the lockdown down Capital.