Mangaluru: Labourers from North India, who were working in the city, were found returning to their native places, following 14-day strict lockdown announced by government to ‘Break The Chain’ of transmission of Covid-19.

In the previous lockdown, announced by Centre during the first wave of Covid, the labourers had stayed back.

“With the running of trains for the confirmed tickets, we can easily get back to our native villages,” said Ghansham from Uttar Pradesh, who was running to catch a train at Mangaluru Central Railway Station on Monday.

He said, “Four of us were working on a contract to paint buildings in Moodbidri. After the announcement of lockdown, we felt it was not safe to stay back in the district as we do not know how long the lockdown will continue.”

Ramlal, another youth, said, “They are saying 14 days now but we really don’t know, so its better that I return home.”

“At least I can survive in my native by working with my family. I will return once situation becomes favourable. With the lockdown, everything is closed. We are jobless now. Thus we are making the long journey to the native,” said another youth from Uttar Pradesh.

Vilaschandra from Bengaluru said, “I was studying in a private college in Moodbidri. Now, the college authorities have asked us to vacate the hostel. I requested a KSRTC bus, that was ferrying government officials, to drop me at the railway station and help me board a train to Bengaluru.”