1,900 stranded Bihar migrant workers, tourists and pilgrims to return home from Varanasi

The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday sent around 1,900 people back to their native state Bihar by buses during the nationwide lockdown.

District Magistrate (DM) Kaushal Raj Sharma, who supervised the process of return, said students, migrant workers, pilgrims, were among those who travelled today.

"We have made provisions for returning, migrant workers, tourists and pilgrims belonging to other states who are stuck here in Varanasi. We have already sent people back to Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. Today, the arrangement is for people from Bihar," Sharma told here.

"Around 60 buses will be used to send 1,900 people from 22 districts of Bihar today. The remaining people from Bihar, close to 1,500, will be sent tomorrow," he added.

The official said that the return of stranded people is being carried out in coordination with the Bihar government.

"Once the buses reach Bihar, their government will take over and ensure the return of people to their home districts. 30 buses have already left till now, while 30 more will leave in the next one hour," he said.

( With inputs from ANI )