Exodus from hotspot Chennai may bring tier-two cities under virus grip

Chennai

The city has already played a role in spreading the virus to other parts of the State through Koyambedu cluster and those returning from here.

According to rough estimates by the State government sources and AIADMK insiders, around 6,000 cars have left for Madurai and 5,000 two-wheelers have moved out to Delta districts in the past one week alone.

“A few district secretaries and MPs of AIADMK have warned party workers to take precautions and look out for those returning from Chennai,” disclosed an AIADMK senior, adding that both AIADMK and DMK are worried over the scenario. The situation is such that AIADMK functionaries in Thanjavur and Tiruchy have urged the area secretaries to alert party workers about people coming from Chennai.

An AIADMK strongman in Thanjavur, also a Rajya Sabha MP, had reached out to the cadre, directing them to create awareness for the need of home quarantine, party sources said.

“With e-pass being rejected by the State without valid reasons, the people have gone on two-wheelers illegally. It is a bomb that will explode soon,” said a secretariat official, pointing out how e-pass rejections have turned out to be an issue.

With lack of jobs and business, many are desperate to return to their native. As there is no adequate medical screening at check posts, cases in districts are slowly increasing, said the official, adding that more than 50 per cent of daily wagers working in hotels, construction and transportation sectors have left Chennai in the last two months.

Besides other parts of the State, the exodus is also like to have an effect on other states. More than 6 lakh migrant workers have left the city so far, and hundreds of continue to throng MGR Chennai Central Railway Station every day hoping to get on trains leaving for their home states.

According to airport sources, 30 domestic flights, mostly connecting Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Tiruchy, Thoothukudi, Madurai, Salem, Thiruvananthapuram were operated. While around 3,700 passengers have left Chennai, only about 1,800 people have arrived, airport sources told DT Next.