From Gujarat to Nagaon, Assam migrant worker walks 2800 km to reach home amidst lockdown

April 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced nationwide lockdown from 24 March, 2020. Life came to a standstill. Millions outside their home town were caught unaware. There was no way to come back home as all means of communication were stopped. A 45-year-old migrant labourer, Jadav Gogoi who works in the industrial town of Vapi in Gujarat close to the Union Territory of Daman also came to know of the lockdown all of a sudden. He knew not how to survive the initial 21 days ordeal.

Finally, Jadav Gogoi resolved to return back to his own Gadharia Karaoini village in Nagaon district of Assam. But how? The only way out was to start on foot and he did so. Gogoi set out on a 2,800 km long arduous journey with just Rs. 4,000 in his pocket on 27 March. He started walking along the highway. At many places, he was stopped by the police, but somehow he evaded them. He was lucky to get life on trucks for some distance in return of fees. Ultimately, after an ordeal of 25 days, Jadav Gogoi reached Raha in Nagaon district of Assam on 18 April. By that time, he was entirely drenched off his energy.

It was at Raha of Nagaon district that members of the Asom Jatiatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) rescued him. Subsequently, he was admitted to the Bhogeswari Phukanani Civil Hospital in Nagaon. Later on, narrating his ordeal, Jadav Gogoi recollected that the last leg of his epic journey through Bihar was the most painstaking. After entering Bihar, he had to walk the remaining stretch of around 1,000 km. before he reached Raha. He was robbed of the Rs 4,000 he carried and other valuables on the way. He also said that he survived by begging.

Doctors in the Bhogeswari Phukanani Civil Hospital in Nagaon examined Gogoi and said that his condition was stable. However, as he had travelled such a long distance crossing several states, he would be kept now under 14 days quarantine as per protocol. It was learnt that his swab sample had been sent to a laboratory for the coronavirus test.