Sarabjeet

Sarabjeet, a 59-year-old mechanic from Someshwar Wadi, Pune, embarked on a challenging journey to Badlapur in Uttar Pradesh via the Nasik Border during the lockdown. His financial strategy involved using saved funds and borrowing money as needed.

Informed primarily through YouTube, Sarabjeet and his family walked consistently for 28-29 days, occasionally getting lifts from trucks that charged exorbitant fees. They faced severe scarcity of food, water, and financial resources, with no external support. Many people died during the journey due to these hardships.

Upon arrival, they were quarantined without health amenities. Finding limited work prospects in their hometown, they returned to the city for employment. Sarabjeet stresses the need for a well-defined evacuation timeline for blue-collar workers before any future lockdowns to prevent such severe hardships.