"War tensions trigger migration: Daily wagers flee Ludhiana for safety back home", 11 May 2025

Amid the tension between India and Pakistan, a number of migrant workers, especially daily wagers, started leaving Ludhiana for their native states. Raju Paswan, a factory worker from Vaishali district of Bihar, said that after watching visuals of the attacks, his family members back home started calling him repeatedly, asking him to return. Therefore, he said that he decided to leave. Another migrant worker, who identified himself as Vicky, left for his native state of Bihar without informing his work manager. He said that when many of his colleagues left for their native places, he also decided to follow suit. He added that the war-like situation reminded him of the Covid pandemic, when many of them walked home during the lockdown. Raj Singh Rajput, president of Akhil Bhartiya Mazdoor Council said that most workers were scared of the war-like situation and blackouts in various parts of the state. ..the large crowd of people heading back home also led to increase in bus fares to Bihar.

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..authorities asked workers not to leave, many left because of various reasons. "They were scared that if there is a lockdown on the pattern of Covid times, they will not have food to eat or a place to live as they live in 'veras' (labour quarters) and earn on a daily basis. Also, they had a fear of being left without work for some time due to tensions.