In Bid To Escape From Maharashtra During Lockdown, 14 UP Labourers Cramp Themselves Inside Cement Mixer Of Truck

Around 18 people included 14 migrant labourers and four employees of the truck owner were caught during the search by Indore Police.

PIC: ANI

Indore, May 2: In a bid to escape poverty, around 18 people, mostly migrants, who were heading back to villages, were found crammed inside a cement mixer-laden truck in Indore on their way to Uttar Pradesh from Maharasthra. All those travelling in the truck were sent to a shelter for medical examination and a bus was being organised for their further transit, according to Indore police official. In fact the video of workers who were seen stuck inside the small hole of the cement-mixer in front of police has gone viral on social media. It is during the routine checks by the Indore Police at Panth Piplai village, about 35 km from Indore, the truck was stopped with a cement-mixer due to suspicion. It is after the lid of the mixer was opened that these workers were identified. Around 18 people included 14 migrant labourers and four employees of the truck owner were caught during the search.

Labourers boarded the truck on Friday in an attempt to reach their native state Uttar Pradesh from Maharashtra, as they found no work due to the coronavirus lockdown. In fact, an FIR has also been registered against the truck driver under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Centre has recently allowed movement of stranded labourers, tourists and students from one state to another on the permission of local authorities. The Maharashtra government ran two special trains on Friday and Saturday carrying migrant workers to Bhopal and Lucknow. The total number of cases in India has crossed the 37,336-mark with 1,218 deaths reported so far. Of the total cases, around 9950 people have recovered until now. Madhya Pradesh has reported 2,719 cases until now. (With inputs from PTI)