NEW DELHI: At least 30 Indian migrant workers were killed on Saturday in road accidents as they tried to return to their home villages during a nationwide coronavirus lockdown, officials said.
The accidents, in central and northern India, were the latest involving some of the millions of labourers left stranded and jobless by the seven-week shutdown. Scores have died in road and rail accidents and even from exhaustion walking home.
In the most deadly incident, a truck carrying about 40 labourers struck another vehicle also carrying workers and their families that was parked at a roadside cafe in Uttar Pradesh, local magistrate Abishek Singh told AFP. At least 25 were killed and 30 injured.
It is thought the driver of the truck had fallen asleep, Singh said. The vehicle was carrying lime powder which suffocated many of those who died, all of whom were men, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the accident "extremely tragic" in a Twitter post and said relief work was in "full swing" at the scene.
Nadia says hunger strike was launched on Thursday after the attempted "abduction" of one of the detainees
Latest victim is a 15-month-old male child from the Pashtoon tribe, belonging to the Wazir caste
Russian Embassy in Islamabad advised its citizens against visiting Pakistan, citing heightened regional tensions
Bomb Disposal Squad was promptly dispatched to location and conducted a comprehensive search of parking area
PTI leaders Ali Asghar and Peshawar Region General Secretary Sher Ali Arbab participated in the moot
