Photos: In Delhi, migrant workers with reservation texts turned away

By HT Correspondent

Updated On May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

Scenes of total chaos emerged at a screening centre set up inside a government school in east Delhi’s Vinod Nagar on May 20 after hundreds of Bihar-bound migrant workers reached here to get themselves screened in order to board Shramik Special trains. Although all of them reached there after receiving a text message (or a possible forwarded message) confirming their reservations, many were turned back by officials who said trains were full and that their names were not on the list.

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Stranded Bihar-bound migrant workers wait to be screened for body temperature inside a Delhi government school in Vinod Nagar, before being taken to board Shramik Special trains to their homes. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Updated on May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

Stranded Bihar-bound migrant workers wait to be screened for body temperature inside a Delhi government school in Vinod Nagar, before being taken to board Shramik Special trains to their homes. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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Migrant workers queue outside a Delhi Government school for screening before leaving for the railway station. At the school in Vinod Nagar, the queue of migrant workers was visible until the evening. While some of them were waiting for their turn since last night, many reached as early as 4am on May 20. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

Updated on May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

Migrant workers queue outside a Delhi Government school for screening before leaving for the railway station. At the school in Vinod Nagar, the queue of migrant workers was visible until the evening. While some of them were waiting for their turn since last night, many reached as early as 4am on May 20. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

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A Delhi Police personnel raises his baton to ensure order among stranded migrant workers gathered at the school. Although all of them reached there after receiving a text message confirming their reservations, many were turned back by officials who said trains were full and their names were not on the list, reported HT on May 21. (Sushil Kumar / HT Photo)

Updated on May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

A Delhi Police personnel raises his baton to ensure order among stranded migrant workers gathered at the school. Although all of them reached there after receiving a text message confirming their reservations, many were turned back by officials who said trains were full and their names were not on the list, reported HT on May 21. (Sushil Kumar / HT Photo)

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Migrant workers and families with messages of reservation were waiting to be allowed to board trains to Darbhanga, Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Saharsa. The messages were received between 12.55am and 2am. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Updated on May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

Migrant workers and families with messages of reservation were waiting to be allowed to board trains to Darbhanga, Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Saharsa. The messages were received between 12.55am and 2am. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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“Your journey has been scheduled for May 20. The train will stop at BKM and buses will be provided for other districts near these stations. Food and other arrangements have been made. You are requested to come for screening on May 20 at 8am with your family and luggage,” read one of these messages as received by migrant workers, as reported in HT. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Updated on May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

“Your journey has been scheduled for May 20. The train will stop at BKM and buses will be provided for other districts near these stations. Food and other arrangements have been made. You are requested to come for screening on May 20 at 8am with your family and luggage,” read one of these messages as received by migrant workers, as reported in HT. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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Stranded migrant workers board a transit bus to the nearest railway station. Migrants have to apply online for a seat on the Shramik Special trains after which they receive a confirmation message asking them to report to screening centres, from where DTC buses drop them to Old Delhi railway station. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Updated on May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

Stranded migrant workers board a transit bus to the nearest railway station. Migrants have to apply online for a seat on the Shramik Special trains after which they receive a confirmation message asking them to report to screening centres, from where DTC buses drop them to Old Delhi railway station. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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Stranded migrant workers seen inside a transit bus along with their luggage. A senior police officer in east Delhi said, “There was some confusion on the part of the administration as people gathered in large numbers but names of only a few were on their list.” (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

Updated on May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

Stranded migrant workers seen inside a transit bus along with their luggage. A senior police officer in east Delhi said, “There was some confusion on the part of the administration as people gathered in large numbers but names of only a few were on their list.” (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

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A stranded migrant worker speaks on his phone while waiting to be screened at a Delhi government school in Vinod Nagar. “It is possible many reached with forwarded messages. We are looking into the matter,” a Delhi government spokesperson told HT. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

Updated on May 21, 2020 08:16 pm IST

A stranded migrant worker speaks on his phone while waiting to be screened at a Delhi government school in Vinod Nagar. “It is possible many reached with forwarded messages. We are looking into the matter,” a Delhi government spokesperson told HT. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

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