The scene at Dimapur Railway Station on April 20 evening. There is no unusual movement of inbound/outbound travelers from the station so far, according to Railway Officials. (Morung Photo)
• No large-scale rushes for home so far
• Slight price hike reported in Dimapur
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 20
“Will there be a lockdown?” This was the common refrain among many in Nagaland on Tuesday as the possibility of some sort of ‘hard measures’ to combat the ‘second wave’ of COVID-19 kept many on the edge.
Besides the announcement of lockdown in some states, particularly in Delhi, the Nagaland Government’s advisory to all District Task Forces (DTF) to implement “urgent measures” to prevent spread of COVID-19 and the order for closure of all the schools up to Class VIII, heightened the apprehension.
There were conflicting reports regarding movement of migrants on the ground.
“I heard that there will be a one-year lockdown,” a barber in Dimapur’s Nuton Basti said.
As the profession was first to be affected under any lockdown measures, he said that he is making preparations “to go home” immediately once the lockdown is “announced.”
Many from Bihar have left home already, he maintained, citing the six-day lockdown in Delhi as an ‘imminent’ indication of a lockdown.
“It is better to be at home and eat whatever we have, than staying here (Dimapur) during a lockdown,” he said, justifying his plan to return home.
Unlike last year, there is no large scale movement of out-bound migrants, an auto driver informed, adding he is not planning to leave.
He did inform that some have left, but maintained that many went to their home state as it is the harvesting season for wheat in Bihar.
The Morung Express could not independently ascertain both claims.
Meanwhile, a rickshaw driver from Tezpur, Assam stated that he would definitely head home if the lockdown measures are imposed. He cited a similar reason cited by the barber, while stressing on the inevitably of a lockdown.
A visit to the Dimapur Railway Station in the evening gave a clearer picture on the ground reality.
A tea vendor at the station observed that there has been no unusual movement of outbound migrants.
He further ruled out the possibility of extraordinary ‘rushes’ witnessed last year after the announcement of strict lockdown measure in March.
It was abrupt and so the rush happened last year. Now people as well as concerned authorities are more experienced, he said, adding, it is now responsibility of respective State governments to decide on the lockdown measures depending on the ground situation.
Meanwhile, officials at the Station Manager office informed that while there is an increase number of an outbound traveler, it is at a maintainable scale.
While not ruling out the possibility of travelers being migrants going home, they said that only confirmed passengers are being allowed to board trains.
There are rushes during when trains are leaving, but the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) are constantly monitoring the trains and passengers, the officials maintained.
Even if some evade the checking, these are negligible, they added.
‘Slight’ hike in prices
Meanwhile, there were also reports of people thronging to the market places in Dimapur on Tuesday to stock up on food items. Some customers reported a slight hike in prices of essential commodities. According to retailers, it was necessitated due to the increase in wholesale prices, owing to rumors of another lockdown.
On social media and other platforms, possibility of some sort of lockdown was the most discussed topic. However, neither the State government nor any DTF in Nagaland have made announcement regarding a lockdown till the filing of this report.
