Bareilly: After a viral video showing migrant workers being sprayed with chemicals in Uttar Pradesh (UP) angered denizens, Bareilly district magistrate Nitish Kumar on Monday said that he had not seen the clips yet, but would definitely look into the matter.
In the video, some labourers are seen squatting in one corner of the road near a bus stop and being sprayed with some liquid.
According to reports, a fire department official, who didn’t wish to be named, said that water mixed with liquid bleach was sprayed on the migrant labourers and this was done as per the instructions of the authorities.
The official said, “Sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach) was mixed with the water.”
You can watch the video (courtesy: The Conspiracy) here:
Criticizing the UP government, people termed the action as ‘chemical bath’ being given to the workers who arrived in UP from other states.
A doctor in Bareilly, Girish Makker, told the media, “Depending on the level of chlorine (when liquid bleach is mixed with water), it can cause burning and itching if applied on skin.”
However, district magistrate Nitish Kumar and other health authorities seem to be ignorant of the entire incident.
Speaking about the incident, Nitish said, “I have not seen the video. We have orders to carry out medical check-up of all those entering the city and sanitize them as part of the guidelines issued by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But I am sure whatever they (officials) are doing must be as per the guidelines.”
According to an administration official, after the lockdown imposed by Modi government, around 25,000 migrant workers from other cities have arrived in Bareilly so far.
