'It felt like war': BBC journalists recall horrors of India's Covid lockdown

On March 24, 2020, India announced its first lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which was about to change the world forever. As the pandemic spread, it became clear that India's healthcare system was not prepared for the crisis. The World Health Organization estimated that the number of Covid cases in India was much higher than what the government reported, suggesting that the real figures were nearly ten times greater. However, the Indian government dismissed these claims, arguing that the WHO's methods were flawed. Now, five years later, journalists from BBC India are reflecting on their experiences during this challenging time, sharing stories that reveal how they sometimes became part of the very narratives they were covering. Soutik Biswas, a BBC journalist, recalls a particularly harrowing day in the summer of 2021 when he received a desperate call from a school teacher. Her husband was battling Covid in a Delhi hospital, where oxygen was in short supply. The teacher's voice trembled as she explained that her husband's oxygen levels had dropped dangerously low. They were in a race against time, making frantic calls and sending out SOS messages, hoping to find someone who could help. After a long struggle, they managed to locate an oxygen flow meter, a small victory in a sea of despair. But the grim reality was that many people were dying because they could not access the basic necessities of life, such as oxygen and medical care. It felt like a war, and the journalists were witnessing the devastation firsthand. Yogita Limaye, another BBC journalist, shared her experience covering the second wave of Covid. She vividly remembers a woman outside a hospital, shaking her unconscious brother, pleading for help. Tragically, the brother died before he could even see a doctor. This scene was repeated countless times as families desperately sought medical assistance, only to be met with closed doors and empty hospitals. The government had declared victory over Covid just two months earlier, but they were caught off guard by the resurgence of cases. Yogita witnessed the frantic efforts of doctors in hospitals, desperately searching for oxygen supplies as they faced an overwhelming number of patients. The sight of funeral pyres burning in the sun was a haunting reminder of the toll the pandemic was taking on the nation. Vikas Pandey, another journalist, described the emotional toll of covering the pandemic. Friends, family, and neighbors reached out to him daily, asking for help in finding oxygen cylinders and hospital beds. He interviewed grieving families, and one story that particularly struck him was about a man whose pregnant wife and father were both infected with the virus. The man lost his father and later received the heartbreaking news that his wife was also running out of oxygen. Vikas often wondered if he could have done more to help those in need. Geeta Pandey, another journalist, recounted her experience during the lockdown. After the Prime Minister announced the strict measures, she ventured out to Delhi's bus station, where the streets were eerily quiet. Only police were present to enforce the lockdown, while countless people were trying to find a way home to their families. As the virus spread, fear gripped the nation. Geeta was particularly worried about her mother, who lived far away and was unwell. She wanted to visit her but feared bringing the virus home. When the vaccination campaign began, Geeta felt a glimmer of hope. However, tragedy struck when her mother passed away before she could see her again. The pandemic left a lasting impact on the lives of many, including the journalists who reported on it. They witnessed the struggles, heartbreak, and resilience of the people, and their stories serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of the crisis.