Hundreds of thousands of India’s 45 million migrant workers flocked to leave big cities last week to return to their hometowns.

Several states have arranged hundreds of buses to take migrant workers back to their hometowns, causing chaotic scenes as thousands of people flocked to bus stations to wait.

Hundreds of thousands of India’s 45 million migrant workers flocked to leave big cities last week to return to their hometowns.

Several states have arranged hundreds of buses to take migrant workers back to their hometowns, causing chaotic scenes as thousands of people flocked to bus stations to wait.

This is the largest migration not seen since 1947, when the British Indian Empire split into today’s India and Pakistan.

Because the public transportation and railway systems have temporarily stopped operating, poor workers have to find every way to get on the bus to go home.

This is the largest migration not seen since 1947, when the British Indian Empire split into today’s India and Pakistan.

Because the public transportation and railway systems have temporarily stopped operating, poor workers have to find every way to get on the bus to go home.

The large number of people crowded on buses and returning to their hometowns caused concerns about the spread of nCoV.

The large number of people crowded on buses and returning to their hometowns caused concerns about the spread of nCoV.

Many people who cannot catch a bus have no choice but to walk hundreds of kilometers home.

In the photo, a couple holding a small child walks along the highway in Ghaziabad, a suburb of New Delhi on March 28.

Many people who cannot catch a bus have no choice but to walk hundreds of kilometers home.

In the photo, a couple holding a small child walks along the highway in Ghaziabad, a suburb of New Delhi on March 28.

There are people who don’t have any valuable belongings other than flip-flops like this man.

The income of migrant workers is often just enough to eat, about 140 to 450 rupees a day (1.8 – 6 USD), according to the International Labor Organization.

There are people who don’t have any valuable belongings other than flip-flops like this man.

The income of migrant workers is often just enough to eat, about 140 to 450 rupees a day (1.8 – 6 USD), according to the International Labor Organization.

Ramesh Meena, a migrant worker, carried his wife on his shoulders because she had a broken leg, as the two returned from Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat, to their hometown in the neighboring state of Rajasthan on March 26.

Ramesh Meena, a migrant worker, carried his wife on his shoulders because she had a broken leg, as the two returned from Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat, to their hometown in the neighboring state of Rajasthan on March 26.

Local people share drinking water with people walking back home in New Delhi on March 28.

Prime Minister Modi asked the poor for forgiveness but said there was no other way than a nationwide blockade to prevent the epidemic.

Local people share drinking water with people walking back home in New Delhi on March 28.

Prime Minister Modi asked the poor for forgiveness but said there was no other way than a nationwide blockade to prevent the epidemic.

The Indian government said yesterday that about 500,000 – 600,000 workers walked from cities to their hometowns.

In the photo, a man is eating at a school in New Delhi, where he was quarantined on his way back to his hometown on March 31.

The Indian government said yesterday that about 500,000 – 600,000 workers walked from cities to their hometowns.

In the photo, a man is eating at a school in New Delhi, where he was quarantined on his way back to his hometown on March 31.

The daughter of a migrant worker was quarantined with her parents at a school in New Delhi, while on her way back to the village on March 31.

The daughter of a migrant worker was quarantined with her parents at a school in New Delhi, while on her way back to the village on March 31.

A family walks along the Mumbai Pune Expressway on March 29.

Ms. Shiv Kumari, 50 years old, said she was kicked out of her rented room in the state of Haryana by her landlord.

On the afternoon of March 30, the two people were almost exhausted when crossing the bridge on the Yamuna River, a place considered sacred by Hindus.

`We have been walking for five days,` Mrs. Shiv Kumari said.

A family walks along the Mumbai Pune Expressway on March 29.

Ms. Shiv Kumari, 50 years old, said she was kicked out of her rented room in the state of Haryana by her landlord.

On the afternoon of March 30, the two people were almost exhausted when crossing the bridge on the Yamuna River, a place considered sacred by Hindus.

`We have been walking for five days,` Mrs. Shiv Kumari said.

Group of people walking on the outskirts of New Delhi on March 27.

India currently records nearly 1,400 cases, of which 35 people have died.

Group of people walking on the outskirts of New Delhi on March 27.

India currently records nearly 1,400 cases, of which 35 people have died.

Photo: AP