CoronaVirus: Thousands stranded at AP-TS border, both states shut doors

Vijayawada: Thousands of students, software professionals and private employees , who hail from Andhra Pradesh but live in Hyderabad, were stranded in Andhra Pradesh -Telangana Border near Garikapadu under Krishna district, as the AP police shut doors due to Coronavirus scare. The crowd were returning to their homes following the 21 day lockdown imposed.

The Telangana police , on Wednesday, issued One Time Pass (OTP) to students, IT employees and private employees to travel to their home town in Andhra Pradesh. A majority of them live in hostels, guest houses located in the Western and central pocket of Hyderabad. On March 25th, many intended to return to home as the hostel owners forced them to vacate.

Over 2, 000 in various vehicles with OTP reached Garikapadu area to enter into the Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday evening . However, they were stopped at the borders by AP police in suspecting the spread of CoronaVirus.

The officials ordered the crowd to stay in the quarantine for 14 days at the Border area before entering the state. 'If the returnees from Telangana are tested negative, they will be allowed into their home Towns in Andhra Pradesh' said an official.

Condemning the condition of the quarantine, K Sravani, who is stranded at the border , said, 'AP government has ignored the welfare of Andhra students. How can we return Hyderabad when all the hostels and restaurants have been shut down due to lockdown'.

'We reached Garikapadu check post (Andhra Pradesh Telangana Border) around 4pm, waiting for the AP government decision. But, the Ministers and Officials are saying that they won't allow us in AP. We are belonged to AP and where should we go, added another stranded student Vinod Kumar.

Most of the hostel managements have asked the migrants to vacate in view of the lockdown. The issue was raised with the Telangana's Director General of Police Mahendar Reddy. The top cop , in return, ordered hostels not to forcefully vacate inmates.

Amidst the difficulties being faced by AP students in Hyderabad due to closure of hostels, mess, and paying guests (PGs) facility, Minister for Municipal Administration Botsa Satyanarayana spoke to Telangana Minister Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) and asked him not to close hotels, PGs and messes.

Andhra Pradesh Government has requested people of the state who are working or studying in Hyderabad to stay put at their places as it is not safe to come out or travel to their native places during the times of pandemic.

The same was discussed by AP Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney and her Telangana counterpart Somesh Kumar and other CMO officials.

A toll free number 1902 has been set up for the public to report the problems. The officials are working to ensure the safety of Andhra people in Telangana.

Hyderabad city police commissioner and Mayor to get in touch with the hostels, PGs, and messes and ensure that they remain open.

Moreover, the permit passes being issued by the police officials have been raised in the discussion between Andhra CS and Telangana CS