Bal Gangadhar

Bal Gangadhar, a 54-year-old security guard, was located in Pune when the lockdown began. His journey took him from Pune to Daubd, then to the UP border, and finally to Lakhhi Saray District in Bihar.

He relied on his savings from his previous salary and was informed about the lockdown only after the government announcement via YouTube news on his phone. Receiving no specific instructions or support, he walked to the highway and got occasional lifts from truck drivers.

The journey, which took 20-25 days, was marked by food and water scarcity, exhaustion, and fatigue. Despite these hardships, he eventually reached home and had to quarantine for 10 days. However, he found no work at his native place and received no ration or financial assistance. He hopes that in future such lockdowns, the government gives ample time for blue-collar migrants to travel and settle before enforcement.