Another migrant dies on the way home

Motiram Jadhav and family were going to native place in Konkan when Jadhav died

A 43-year-old man from Mumbai who was walking to his native place in Konkan from Kandivali with his family members, including wife and children, died on the Mumbai-Goa highway near Pen in Raigad on Thursday night. The victim has been identified as Motiram Jadhav, 43.

According to the police, Jadhav was a daily wager in Mumbai. Since the lockdown his work had dried up, so he and his family decided to return to their native place in Badhaon village in Shrivardhane Taluka.

On Wednesday evening the family left their home in Kandivali and started walking towards Konkan. Officials said they managed to reach Jite village in Pen by Thursday evening and halted near a hotel for rest. Suddenly, Jadhav started feeling uneasy and fell unconscious. His family members asked passers-by for help and took him to Pen Civil Hospital, where he was declared dead.

“They managed to travel almost 90 kilometres and had stopped at the Sahara Hotel for some rest when suddenly Jadhav complained of uneasiness and fell unconscious,” said a police officer, adding prima facie Jadhav died of dehydration.

However, the police are waiting for the hospital report. “The family said they had no means of living in Mumbai, since there was no work. They wanted to go to their village, where they could at least do some work on their farm,” said another police officer, adding that they tried to get a state transport bus but were unsuccessful.

Prakash Pawar, inspector, Dadar Sagari Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the incident took place, said, “The body has been handed over to the family members.” He said the authorities had also arranged an ambulance to take the body to the family’s native place.