As Himachal allows residents to return, thousands line up at Punjab's Mehatpur border

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 27

As the Himachal Pradesh government allowed its residents stuck in other states to return home, thousands today lined up at Mehatpur border in Una in the night.

A few police officials posted at the border are having tough time controlling the crowd. Also, no social distancing norms were followed. The people who include women and small children have been facing problems as they have to wait for hours before health authorities screen each resident coming inside for corona symptoms before allowing them into the state.

Thousands of Himachal residents, including students, patients and workers, are struck in other states since lockdown and were striving to return home. The state had earlier adopted a strict policy of not allowing anybody, including Himachal residents, back into the state fearing spread of coronavirus. However, it has now allowed every Himachal resident to come back. All those coming back have been advised home quarantine.