Of the 5 lakh migrants who have registered with Mumbai police to leave the city in Shramik Specials, at least 1.30 lakh (approximately 30 per cent) are from Dharavi. Local businessmen, whose manufacturing units are shut since the lockdown, say they do not expect their terrified workers to return for at least a year.

With Coronavirus cases in the slum increasing daily, authorities say the number will continue to increase. Shahu Nagar and Dharavi, the two police stations in the area, have received 55,000 and 75,000 applications respectively.