NORTH LAKHIMPUR, May 20 - The tragedy of migrant workers amid the nationwide lockdown has been felt by the people of Lakhimpur district also.
Five youths from Lakhimpur district, hit by the ongoing lockdown, have been embarking on an arduous journey back home on bicycles from Pune after allegedly receiving no response from State helpline number 104. The five youths � Indra Hazarika, Biman Bora, Manash Saikia of Pratapgarh village under Kadam Revenue Circle under Bogeenadi PS and Suren Baruah from Anantapur and Krishna Saikia from Thekeraguri under Chawuldhowa Police Outpost � were working in a factory in Pune and they lost their jobs following the imposition of lockdown due to the spread of COVID-19.
Their miseries were further compounded when they were thrown out of their rented homes by the landlords on suspicion of being COVID-19 positive.
The youths dialled the Assam State COVID-19 helpline number 104 for assistance for more than 20 days, but allegedly got no response. Desperate to reach home with no money in their pockets, the youths started to ride back home on bicycles from Pune on May 16.
The five Lakhimpur youths were also accompanied by five others from Biswanath, two from Sonitpur and one from Chirang districts and the group has already reached Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.
According to their anxious family members, the youths were provided food and water bottles by police in a place on their way. Their family members here also have appealed to the authorities in Assam to rescue the youths from Madhya Pradesh as they have been completely exhausted due to fatigue and hunger.
Lakhimpur has a large migrant workforce in various parts of the country outside Assam as the district is severely affected by flood and erosion. Young men and women from the flood and erosion-hit villages of the district migrate to States as far as Kerala and Kashmir for employment in the factories, private security agencies and in household works.
