21 fresh coronavirus cases confirmed in Telangana; tally touches 1,082

Hyderabad, May 3 (PTI) As many as 21new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Telangana on Sunday, taking the aggregate to 1,082, even as hundreds of migrant workers staged protests in various parts of the state demanding that the government make arrangements to send them home.

According to a health department bulletin, of the fresh cases, 20 were reported from greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporationlimits and another in Jagityal.

A total of 46 patients were discharged on Sunday after treatment, taking the total number of those discharged to 545, it said. So far, 29 people have succumbed to the virus inthe state, while the active cases stood at 508. State Health Minister E Rajender said more than 50 per cent cases got cured and were discharged from hospitals.

Violating the lockdown protocol, around 500 migrant workers squatted on the road at Ramagundam in Pedapalli district demanding immediate arrangements to return to their homes.

They also engaged in an argument with the police personnel, who allegedly resorted to mild lathicharge and chased them away. Another protest was held in Nagarkurnool district, where workers from other states, who were employed at a cotton mill gathered in front of the unit with the same demand.

Police officials held talks with them and explained the procedures to be followed for inter-state travel, after which they dispersed. More than 1,000 labourers took to the streets at Tolichowki area in the state capital, following rumours that the government would operate special trains to ferry them to their respective states.

They also dispersed after authorities concerned reached the spot and assured them that arrangements would be made to send them home. Earlier, expressing gratitude of the Defence forces to the coronavirus frontline 'warriors', an Indian Air Force helicopter showered flower petals over the state-run Gandhi Hospital and Military Hospital in Golconda here.