They were finally returning home but their sister who had been praying for their return was no more to welcome them.

Among the Covid-19 lockdown’s countless human tragedies is the one experienced by two Yadav brothers of Palamau, both migrant workers who had gone to Bangalore to earn a decent living and save money for their “only sister’s studies and wedding”.

Vijay, 25, and Niranjan, 18, of Sikni village in Manatu block of Palamau district, reached Hatia station in Ranchi by a special train on Sunday. But their eyes were full of unshed tears.

Reason: their beloved sister Kunta, 16, was struck by lightning on Tuesday in their village and died instantly.

“She was the youngest of us six siblings and our only sister,” said Vijay in a choked voice after he alighted from the train in Hatia. “She was 16, had appeared in her Class X board exam, and was a bright student. We always encouraged her to dream big, and said we’ll back her.”

“We went to Bangalore for work, another of our brothers went to Odisha, so that we could look after our parents, our sister and our younger brothers well,” Niranjan said.

“When the lockdown happened, our sister would call us every day and said she was praying for our safe return. Look, we are safe but she is no more,” he said.

Last Tuesday, their mother and sister had gone out to collect something when it started raining heavily, accompanied by lightning and thunder. “A bolt struck Kunta who died instantly. Our mother survived,” Vijay said.

“We got the news the same night. Next day, by chance we met a woman journalist who contacted the police commissioner who helped us get seats in a special train that was leaving Bangalore on Friday night,” he said. “Other stranded workers with us were angry that we two got seats, but they were assured that they would also return soon. Our sister’s prayers worked.”