Migrant worker Bibhuti Khatua has mostly been confined to his one-room dwelling in Kotla Mubarakpur here with his ailing wife since Saturday.
After the weekend lockdown, the plumber in his mid-40s had on Monday reported for work at the construction site where he is employed. But the state government then announced a total lockdown from Tuesday morning till the next Monday morning.
For the next five days, therefore, Khatua will be dipping into his meagre savings of Rs 4,000 to meet his daily needs and buy medicines for his wife.
Returning to his village in Kendrapada, Odisha, will cost him his entire savings without offering hope of work back home. Staying back means surviving five days on the uncertain hope that the lockdown would be lifted on Monday and work will resume.