A 12-year-old girl died after making a 150-km trip on footfrom Telangana to her native Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, desperatebecause of the extended nationwide lockdown to fight coronavirus. Jamlo Makdam,who worked in chilly fields to earn for her family, collapsed and died just anhour away from her village.
She had set out on the long journey on April 15, along with11 others who worked with her on the chilly fields at a village in Telangana.The group had walked for three days, cutting through forests and avoiding thehighway.
Jamlo was around 14 km from home when an excruciating painin her stomach stopped her on Saturday afternoon. Finally, her body was takento her home in an ambulance.
Doctors say she was severely dehydrated and malnourished."Her coronavirus tests came out negative. She may have suffered electrolyteimbalance in her body too," said BR Pujari, senior district medical officer.
The girl's father, Andoram Madkam, said she had been workingin Telangana for two months. "She had walked for three days. She suffered fromvomiting and stomach ache," he said. Some members of the group said she had notbeen eating well.
The state government has announced Rs 1 lakh compensationfor the girl's family. Thousands of migrant workers, stuck far from home duringthe lockdown and left without jobs and shelter, have attempted long journeys onfoot out of despair.
