Indians Forced Into Quarantine Are Dying in Lockdown?but Not From Coronavirus

“We have been finding a spike in deaths and suicides due to hunger and loss of livelihood,” Thejesh GN, a software developer from Bangalore who is tracking the lockdown-related deaths, told VICE News. “Without immediate relief efforts, such as universalization of Public Distribution System, community kitchens, income support, and safe transportation to stranded workers, the extended lockdown is likely to cause more distress and deaths.” According to the database of deaths Thejesh is maintaining, there have been 66 deaths recorded due to starvation, exhaustion, police brutality, delayed medical help, or suicides due to loss of income or lack of food. There were 7 deaths by crimes associated with lockdown, and 35 that Thejesh was unable to categorize due to lack of information.Modi announced the surprise nationwide lockdown on March 24, when India just reported 10 deaths to the coronavirus. But for the millions of families who live in one-room homes with no toilet and no running water, and who survive day-to-day on paltry wages from menial jobs, the lockdown has meant hunger, eviction, and possibly even death.Within hours of the lockdown coming into effect, there were already reports of thousands of migrant workers who were left without work, food or shelter because of the restrictions, dying of exhaustion or being hit by vehicles while walking hundreds of miles to get home.