Dinesh Singh works in a factory in Gurugram, which falls in Haryana state. On 23 March – a day after ‘junta curfew’ – Singh returned to his native village in Uttar Pradesh as his employer halted work at the factory for an indefinite period.

Singh’s decision to promptly go to his village proved to be a blessing as prime minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown only two days later, on 25 March, that led to suspension of inter-state bus and train services.

When Singh reached his village Konkera in Chaumuha block of Mathura district, he was taken to a hospital before stepping in.