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See pictures: Stranded migrants throng Bengaluru bus station to return home

Stranded people carry their belongings to take special buses to their destinations at a bus station during a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of new coronavirus, in Bengaluru (Photo: AP)

1 min read . Updated: 02 May 2020, 05:23 PM IST ANI

'Earlier, we used to pay ₹500-600 from Bengaluru to Raichur. Now, the KSRTC is charging us ₹1,400,' said a passenger
'We are sending 30 commuters one bus while abiding by the guidelines. If any request comes from the neighbouring states, we will send buses there too,' said a KSRTC official

Bengaluru: A large number of people gathered at Majestic Bus Terminal here on Saturday morning to travel back to their respective home states during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

A majority of them are the migrant labourers who were rendered jobless after the imposition of lockdown in March to check the spread of coronavirus.

"We were working as labourers in the city. From the past many weeks, we were unable to earn anything because of the lockdown. We are surviving without food. At this point of time, they are charging us double and triple for the tickets. This is literally harassment," said a commuter.

A stranded woman arrives with her luggage at a bus station to take a special bus to her destination during a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of new coronavirus, in Bengaluru (Photo: AP)

"Earlier, we used to pay ₹500-600 from Bengaluru to Raichur. Now, the KSRTC is charging us ₹1,400. The hike in fare is creating more problems to migrant workers," said a local while speaking to ANI.

Prabhakar Reddy, Chief Traffic Manager, said that they are arranging buses for different districts and are carrying only 30 commuters in each bus.

"We are arranging buses for different districts. We are sending 30 commuters one bus while abiding by the guidelines. If any request comes from the neighbouring states, we will send buses there too," he said while speaking to ANI.

Stranded people line up to board special buses to their destinations at a bus station during a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of new coronavirus, in Bengaluru (Photo; AP)

Recently, the Centre issued an order to States and Union Territories to facilitate the inter-state movement of stranded people including migrant labourers in the country.

Stranded people assemble at a bus station to take special buses to their destinations during a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of new coronavirus, in Bengaluru (Photo: AP)

The Home Ministry stated in its order that all persons must be medically screened at source and destination and kept in the home or institutional quarantine on their arrival.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.