Coronavirus Lockdown: Bihar govt decides to welcome 1.5 lakh migrants by Monday

With Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arranging special buses to send migrant labourers back to their respective states, more than 1.5 lakh migrant workers are set to arrive in Bihar by Monday (March 30), leaving the state in an unenviable situation.

More than 58,000 migrant workers already reached Bihar in special trains, a day before the nationwide lockdown kicked in on March 25.

The colossal challenge that Bihar faces now is not limited to provide food and shelter, which can be done with some efforts after Chief Minister Nitish



Kumar released Rs 100 crore under this head, but the bigger task is to effectively quarantine the new arrivals and keep them separated from rest for at least 14 days.

Though CM Nitish Kumar has expressed reservation against Yogi Adityanath's move to arrange special buses and transport people in "violation of the lockdown", the Bihar government has decided not to stop these vehicles from entering Bihar. The step, Nitish Kumar is believed to have conveyed to the Centre, would defeat the purpose of the nationwide lockdown ­ to stop the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19).