2020 in Pics: The year of crisis - an unforgiving virus, exodus of migrants and more

As the year 2020 pummelled the human race, the spirit of humanity came up trumps. Loss of countless lives and hopes shaken by an ever-changing ‘new normal’ due to coronavirus had mankind on its toes. Besides the fatal virus, natural and man-made disasters also tested the mettle of people, showcasing, despite the gloom, human beings' indomitable spirit. At the cusp of a vaccine to defeat the pandemic conclusively, Deccan Herald photojounalists captured some moments from these trying times. Here's a look at the year gone by. 

India announces lockdown | Two men push an auto on KR Puram hanging bridge in Bengaluru during the nationwide lockdown since March 25. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

The long journey back home | Young Taanya and her family walk on the Bangalore-Hyderabad highway to return to their native in UP after the coronavirus lockdown was extended. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

Disinfectants at the end of the tunnel | People pass through a sanitisation tunnel to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Bengaluru before the Supreme Court and several other agencies deemed them inefficient in actually preventing the spread of the virus. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

The Exodus of migrants | A man holds an infant as several migrant workers travelling to Madhya Pradesh stand in a queue near Palace Grounds, Bengaluru waiting for buses to take them to the railway station. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

Before the lockdown, voices grow loud | While a pandemic-induced lockdown came into effect in March, there was no dearth of protests. Protests against the CAA and NRC spilled over from 2019. Protesters dressed as mime artists hold the Constitution of India book during the protest against CAA/NRC at Town Hall in Bengaluru. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

The long journey home | A migrant family from Raichur, North Karnataka leave the city on foot to return to their homes due to lack of transportation amid the nationwide lockdown announced by the government. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

Crackdown on violators | Police cane a man defying the lockdown near Chamarajpet in Bengaluru. Credit: DH Photo/ Janardhan B K

Karnataka ramps up testing | Medics wearing PPE stand outside the Covid-19 ward of Bengaluru's Victoria Hospital, as cases surge. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

Scrounging for supplies | Coming to the aid of citizens facing hardship due to the lockdown, the Karnataka government and opposition leaders took a slew of measures to ensure uninterrupted supply of food grains, vegetables and milk. However, long queues, jostling and violation of social distancing norms was seen as people gathered supplies amid panic. People violate social distancing norms as they stand in a queue to get free vegetables being distributed by leaders at Mallasandra, in Bengaluru. Credit: DH Photo/ B H Shivakumar

Karnataka Congress sees change of guard | KPCC President DK Shivakumar gets emotional during the preparatory meet of Pratigna Dina (Day of Oath) while addressing party workers and supporters. Credit: DH Photo/Pushkar V

Double Whammy with heavy rains and Covid-19 | For the third consecutive year,several parts of Karnataka were battered by torrential rains and floods. People struggle to cross the road due to stagnant water after heavy rain in Koramangala. Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh

Amid a virus, some accidents | Orange flames are seen rising after a massive fire broke out in a chemical factory at New Guddadahalli near Mysore road in Bengaluru. Credit: Credit: DH Photo/ Janardhan B K

Karnataka sees virus resurgence | After the death of a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi in the state, the country's first casualty to coronavirus, in March, the focus entirely shifted to containing the contagion. While a strict lockdown and containment strategy started yielding results, making Karnataka a better performer state, easing of restrictions and allowing public movement soon led to a deterioration in the situation. By September-October, Karnataka became one of the worst affected states with daily cases surging as high as over 10,000, even as related deaths started going north. A medical staff takes a break from collecting Covid-19 test samples. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

DJ Halli and KG Halli riots mar Bengaluru | RAF and CISF personnel march after a mob attacked and burnt vehicles in front of DJ Halli Police Station, in Bengaluru. Three people were killed after police opened fire on August 11 night to quell a mob that went on a rampage over an inflammatory social media post allegedly put out by P Naveen, a relative of Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy. The MLA's residence and a police station at D J Halli were torched by the rioters, who also set ablaze many police and private vehicles, besides looting the belongings of the legislator and his sister. More than 300 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. Credit: DH Photo/ Janardhan BK

Of lives lostt | Volunteers bury a Covid-19 patient at a cemetery in Bengaluru. Even as the number of Covid-19 deaths in the state saw a dramatic decline in recent days, Bengaluru Urban stood at the far end of the spectrum. Credit: DH Photo/ Pushkar V

Ravaging virus, a deluge | A man rides a motorcycle on a water logged railway underpass in Bengaluru. Battered by torrential rains and floods in August and later in September and mid-October, this was the first time that Karnataka witnessed faced floods in Krishna and Bhima basins in a single year. The government estimated the damage from floods and landslides at Rs 15,410 crore. Credit: DH Photo/ Janardhan BK

A drop to savour | A customer stands in queue to buy liquor from a shop as the Karnataka government reopened liquor shops and permited sale of alcohol in a limited manner after over 40 days of lockdown. Credit: DH Photo/ B H Shivakumar

The Exodus of migrants | A migrant worker and his family members walk along a road as they leave the city for their home in Vijayapura, days after the government imposes a 21-day nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. Credit: DH Photo/ BH Shivakumar

Never seen before ruckus in the Karnataka Legislative Council | The Council had witnessed high drama with BJP-JDS and Congress members hurling abuses and pushing each other and the Deputy Chairman being pulled down from the Chairman's seat over a row pertaining to the no-confidence motion. Pandemonium ensued between BJP and Congress leaders over the chairman post in the Karnataka Legislative Council meet. Congress MLCs heckled and pushed Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, SL Dharme Gowda, from his seat. Credit: DH Photo/ BH Shivakumar

Through fire, ice and worse, life goes on | Captain Shivam Singh (right) of the daredevil IAF 'Tornadoes' motorcycle acrobatic team is engulfed in flames while trying to ride through a tunnel of fire in an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records in Bengaluru. Credit: DH Photo/ B H Shivakumar

Ravaging virus, a deluge | Motorists and people struggle to get through a flooded road after heavy rains batter the Karnataka. Credit: DH Photo/ BH Shivakumar

Trying times but faith lives on | Women perform Amavasya pooja to the 'Corona Maramma' (a god of diseases of sorts) to provide respite from the coronavirus amidst the lockdown. Credit: DH Photo/ SK Dinesh

A dense fog hangs heavy | The Namma Metro operates amid thick smog in Bengaluru. Meanwhile Delhi and the northern parts of India saw deteriorating weather conditions and very poor air quality due to stubble burning, compounding the Covid-19 situation. Credit: DH Photo/ BH Shivakumar