6-day lockdown in Delhi; Kejriwal says needed as healthcare stretched to limit

Soon after the announcement, large number of migrant workers again started looking for a way out of the city; markets thronged to stock up essentials

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a six-day lockdown in the national Capital from 10 pm on Monday till 5 am on April 26 and said it was necessary to deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases as the city’s health system was stretched to its limit.

The announcement, which came at the end of a weekend curfew, brought back the memories of last year’s lockdown and triggered usual responses from people — migrant workers rushing to railway stations and bus terminals in a bid to return home, residents flocking to markets to stock up on essentials, and tipplers joining in long, serpentine queues outside liquor stores.

Thousands of migrant workers gathered at the city’s inter-state bus terminals and railway stations to return home even though Kejriwal appealed to them with folded hands not to leave Delhi and gave a word of assurance — “Main hoon na” (I am here for you). Addressing an online press conference, the Chief Minister sought to assure the migrant workers by saying that this short period of lockdown would not be extended.