A used mask dumped on the road on Janata Curfew day. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
India Coronavirus Janta Curfew HIGHLIGHTS: As the number of coronavirus cases rose to 370 on Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Office advised State Governments to issue appropriate orders to allow only essential services to operate in the 75 districts which have reported confirmed cases or casualties relating to COVID-19. The State Governments may expand the list depending on their assessment of the situation. The government also announced that passenger train services will remain suspended till March 31 to prevent the spread of the virus. Not just trains, but metro services, inter-state passenger transport has also been shut till March 31 now. On Sunday evening, people across India clapped, rang bells, and blew conch shells in response to PM Modi’s call for thanking those at the forefront of the fight against the novel coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the 14-hour Janata Curfew began at 7 am with PM Narendra Modi making a fresh appeal to citizens to remain indoors to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. A day ahead of the lockdown, several busy junctions across the country such as Delhi’s Connaught Place and Sarojini Nagar, Mumbai’s Marine Drive and Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus station and Kolkata’s New Market area wore a deserted look on Saturday.
From suspending metro services to deploying additional cops, the states have also ramped up measures to encourage people to stay indoors between 7 am to 9 pm Sunday. The Indian Railways has already announced to shut down its services, however clarifying that the trains that have already commenced their journeys would reach its destination on Sunday.
Janata Curfew LIVE Updates: A day ahead of the Janata Curfew, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, March 22, Delhi's Connaught Place witnesses hardly any vehicular movements. Most shops and restaurants are shut in the national capital. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
In an appeal to the public amid rising coronavirus concerns, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday shared a video to spread some cheer and awareness. Shah Rukh posted an over 5 minute-long video in which he used his old movies and songs to drive the message of taking necessary precautions and most importantly, hope, during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
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Visuals from Mumbai captured by Express photojournalist Nirmal Harindran
People in Madhya Pradesh remained indoors and roads wore a deserted look Sunday in view of the 'Janata curfew' call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight off coronavirus. Most of the cities woke up to empty streets as even morning walkers and joggers did not venture out of their homes. Gardens, stadiums and other public grounds, which usually witness crowds on weekends, were empty this Sunday. Roadside shops and eateries also remained closed across the state. The public transport system did not function either. However, milk booths, medical shops, hospitals and ambulance facility were operating.
As Karnataka recorded six more positive cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the state has decided to put nine districts including capital city Bengaluru under a week-long lockdown beginning Monday. According to a state government order released on Sunday, the lockdown will be in force from March 23 to March 31. Read more here
Night curfew was imposed in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya on Sunday to tackle any emergent situation and ensure safety of people, amid concerns over coronavirus threat. The night curfew has also been imposed to prevent incoming vehicles from Assam from entering the district via Malidor area, according to a senior government official. "Keeping in view the emerging scenario, safety of the people, and to avoid any outbreak of an epidemic, night curfew has been imposed with effect from 7 pm on March 22 till 7 am on March 23," district magistrate F M Dopt said. (PTI)
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Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik claps to express gratitude to those providing essential services.
No commercial vehicles will ply and all private institutions will remain closed in Bihar till March 31.
Visuals from Mumbai's Marine Drive at 5 pm during Janata Curfew.
Streets across Odisha wore a deserted look and markets and business establishments remained closed on Sunday as people largely remained indoors in view of the 'janata curfew' call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases in the country Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed his gratitude to the people for observing the 'janata curfew' in a "disciplined and decent way", Odisha governments chief spokesperson on COVID-19, Subroto Bagchi, said. Railway stations and bus stands in Bhubaneswar and elsewhere presented a deserted look and those who arrived at the airport and railway stations had to struggle to reach their destinations.
Delhi will be locked down in view of the growing coronavirus threat, from 6 am on March 23, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced at a joint press conference with Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Sunday. The lockdown will continue till 12 midnight on March 31, Kejriwal said. During the lockdown, no public transport will operate and Delhi's borders will be sealed but the essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue, he said. Dairies, grocery shops, chemists and petrol pumps will remain open but persons associated with essential services will be allowed to go to their destinations during the lockdown, he said.
Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Janata Curfew will end at 9 pm but it doesn't mean we should start celebrating. "It's the beginning of a long battle. People shouldn't come out of houses in states which have announced a lockdown. In rest of the states if it is not very important don't come out of the houses." He also said that Janata Curfew is beginning of a long battle and today countrymen have told that if they decide they can take on any challenge.
Goa has extended the curfew by three more days. "It has been extended by three days by the Chief Minister. A decision to extend it further will be taken by the CM at the end of the three day period," Health minister Vishwajit Rane said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that 15 districts in Uttar Pradesh would be under lockdown in the first phase till Wednesday. The announcement came soon after the Centre and state governments decided to put under lockdown 75 districts across the country where cases of novel coronavirus pandemic have been reported. The districts where the lockdown has been enforced in the first phase are Lucknow, Agra, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Aligarh, Moradabad, Lakhimpur Kheiri, Bareilly, Azamgarh, Meerut, Gorakhpur and Saharanpur.
The Jharkhand government decided to extend 'janata curfew' beyond 9 pm on Sunday to thwart the possibility of some people organising programmes after the completion of the deadline. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed for a 'janata curfew' on Sunday between 7 am and 9 pm as part of social distancing to check the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Appealing to the people to ignore rumours relating to the virus, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged the people to stay at home after 9 pm, as they did during the day on Sunday.
Eight men were arrested at Thane's Kalyan in the district on Sunday as they were found playing cricket during the 'Janata curfew' being observed to check the spread of coronavirus, PTI reported. They were playing cricket at Kala Talao Maidan in the afternoon, police said. Police also detained a boy in this connection, an official told PTI.
On Sunday evening, people across India clapped, rang bells, and blew conch shells in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for thanking those at the forefront of the fight against the novel coronavirus. While announcing the janata curfew on Thursday, PM Modi had called for everyone to clap and ring bells at 5 pm on Sunday as a show of appreciation for the doctors and servicemen who are fighting the pandemic. Read more here
This is how residents Koramangala, Bengalauru reacted at 5 pm on Janata Curfew.
Uttarakhand: People come out on their terraces and balconies to clap, clang utensils and ring bells to express their gratitude to those providing essential services amid coronavirus pandemic.
Delhi roads wore a deserted look on Sunday as barring public transport buses and emergency vehicles, other vehicles kept off roads, as people joined hands to fight coronavirus by keeping indoors. Delhi Metro services remained suspended and only 50 per cent of DTC and cluster buses were operational during the Janata curfew. Autos and taxis were a rare sight due to the support extended by various unions representing such vehicles to Prime Minister Modi's appeal for Janta curfew. Several unions like the Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh, Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, Delhi Auto Taxi Transport Congress Union and Delhi Taxi Tourist Transport Association supported the curfew call.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar Sunday shared a video on Twitter and asked CM Pramod Sawant to act against alleged 'goondagiri' of Goa Police.
The Uttarakhand government imposed a lockdown till March 31 in the state on Sunday to contain the spread of the coronavirus, officials told PTI. However, essential supplies such as medicines, foodgrains, vegetables etc. were kept out of the ambit of the lockdown, they added. The lockdown was imposed on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a countrywide "janta curfew" evoked a spontaneous response across the state with people staying at home and roads and marketplaces wearing a deserted look.
The iconic Gateway of India, Juhu beach and the Bandra-Worli sealink, which are otherwise always bustling with activity, wore a desolate look on Sunday as Mumbai joined the nationwide 'Janta curfew' proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to check the spread of coronavirus. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and other suburban train stations, which remain chock-a-block during normal times with thousands of commuters jostling to get inside the overcrowded trains, presented an uncommon sight of being empty as people stayed indoors to support the curfew.
The bustling cities of Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state, wore a deserted look on Sunday as residents stayed indoors in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a nationwide 'Janata Curfew' to check the spiralling numbers of coronavirus cases. Shops in busy marketplaces of Hazratganj, Aminabad, Gomtinagar, Aliganj and Kaiserbagh areas were shut, while police vehicles patrolled the streets. Cinema halls, multiplexes, cafes, restaurants and bars also remained closed. Similar scenes were witnessed in Allahabad, Faizabad, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Raebareli, Badaun, Bareilly, Jhansi and other parts of the state.
The services of the Noida-Greater Noida metro have been suspended till March 31 with immediate effect due to the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Sunday. The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC), which operates the Aqua Line, has also announced suspension of its city bus services for the same duration.
The 14-hour Janata Curfew began at 7 am with PM Narendra Modi making a fresh appeal to citizens to remain indoors to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Delhi Metro, the country's largest urban mass rapid transit network, will not be operational till March 31, authorities announced on Sunday. The announcement came minutes after the Union government conveyed the message to halt operations to the top management of the corporation. Presently, the DMRC metro network stretches 389 km, with 285 stations, across Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh and Bahadurgarh in the National Capital Region. Earlier, the DMRC had announced suspension of services on Sunday. A decision was also taken to allow regular commuters to avail metro services only during peak hours on Monday. However, with the Union government declaring a complete shutdown on all metro services till March 31, the DMRC also extended the shut down of its operations.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Sunday announced that Section 144 will be imposed in all urban areas from Monday, March 23 onward to restrict movement and ensure social distancing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Thackeray has also urged industries to pay at least minimum wages to employees during the lockdown period and told people to not step out of the houses after 9 pm. "Only five per cent govt staff will work from tomorrow in government offices. Earlier it was reduced to 50 per cent and then further down to 25 per cent. State transport and private bus services to be stopped and in cities, buses will ply only for essential services," he said.
Empty Shaheen Bagh road on the day of Janata Curfew. Shaheen Bagh continued its portest against CAA with five women at the protest site. Some women have left their footwear to mark their protest.
A spontaneous response by the people to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'janata curfew' appeal to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus showed empty streets, railway stations and highways across Jharkhand on Sunday. Only emergency vehicles were plying on the roads, and all shops and markets remained closed.
Here are some visuals from some of the key areas in Bengaluru on Janata Curfew.
South Western Railway sanitises and deep-cleans Hubli Junction railway station premises on Janata Curfew.
The West Bengal governement has put Kolkata under lockdown till March 31 to control COVID-19.
Roads, railway stations, bus stands across Bihar wore a deserted look on Sunday with people voluntarily staying indoors in view of the 'janata curfew' call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus. Buses were not plying on city roads as the administration had already taken a decision to stop city bus service, besides inter-district and inter-state services till March 31. Except police personnel and few passersby, one could hardly find anyone on the streets.
Earlier today, The TMC announced that it has given instructions to all its MPs to withdraw from Parliament and return to their constituencies in view of the coronavirus scare. TMC MP Derek O'Brien also posted a video message on Twitter for COVID-19 awareness.
Tripura suspends passenger movement through Akhaura Integrated Check Post (ICPA) with Bangladesh altogether as per provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act. Earlier on March 07, the central government suspended fresh arrival and departures through all international land ports of the country to check COVID-19. Seven land custom stations of Tripura were shut down barring Akhaura ICP. According to the new order, restrictions are placed on movement of all passengers including Indian citizens through Akhaura ICP till March 31, except official and diplomatic passport holders.
Not just trains, but metro services, inter-state passenger transport has also been shut till March 31 now. States have been asked to only allow essential services in all 75 districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Chennai: People remained indoors and the city wore a deserted look on Sunday in view of the Janta Curfew call.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has called off all interstate services till March 31. This includes a total of 1,076 buses, PRO T S Latha said..
Taking to Twitter, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant requested people to stay indoors on Janata Curfew. "Working from home on the day of #JantaCurfew. Have also asked my support staff to work from home. I am reviewing and monitoring the situation across the state with respect to movement on borders as well as healthcare services.", his post read.
As the number of coronavirus cases rose to 341 on Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Office advised State Governments to issue appropriate orders to allow only essential services to operate in the 75 districts which have reported confirmed cases or casualties relating to COVID-19. The State Governments may expand the list depending on their assessment of the situation.
Mumbai, also knows as the city that never sleeps, finally braces for a virtual lockdown as local train services will stop from Sunday midnight till March 31 in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. However, BEST bus services will continue in the metropolis to facilitate movement of staff of the essential services, a state government official said. In an unprecedented move, the railways on Sunday announced suspension of all its passenger services from March 22 midnight to March 31 midnight and said only goods trains will run during the period. Nearly 80 lakh people use the suburban trains in Mumbai everyday, a Central Railway official said.
DMDK President Vijayakanth tweeted photos of the wedding with several people wearing masks amid the Janata Curfew today.
Chandigarh Administration has decided to impose certain restrictions to prevent spread of COVID19. Till 31st March, 2020, all the non-essential establishments including Offices, Schools, Colleges, factories and other business establishments etc shall remain closed. All public transport shall also remain suspended. However, essential services including vegetable shops, ration shops, chemists etc shall remain open.
Hyderabad wore a deserted look on Sunday as people stayed indoors following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call of observing 'Janata curfew' in the wake of the deadly coronavirus.
The government offices in Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed on next three days as UT government announced public holiday for March 24 as well. ``Ongoing #COVID pandemic, government declares holiday in all offices on Tuesday March 24,’’ tweeted UT government spokesperson Rohit Kansal, adding March 23 and March 25 are already holidays. ``Essential services to continue undisrupted,’’ he added. The UT has gazetted holiday on account of Shab-e-Miraj on March 23 an Ist navratra on March 25.
Meanwhile, Jammu province observed complete lockdown on Sunday with deserted roads, lanes and bylanes right from the hilly terrains in Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal range adjoining Kashmir Valley to the plains of Kathua bordering Punjab in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Janata curfew on Sunday. There was complete shut down even in Katra town where shopkeepers do not close their establishments even during night.
A glimpse of Ahmedabad during curfew hours on Sunday.
Tamil Nadu government has extended Janata Curfew till 5 am tomorrow. There is no bar on essential services.
Taking to Twitter, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said, "Borders have been sealed, no one can enter into the state without proper screening and permission. We are committed to help you in each possible way."
Shops remained closed due to the Janata Curfew in Ludhiana on Sunday. (Express photo/Gurmeet Singh)
No train, except goods train, will be allowed to run services till March 31. Minimum local train services will be allowed while the Kolkata metro railways will run as usual on March 22, following which all will be stopped till the end of the month.
Shops and eateries were closed, and vehicles remained off the roads as people in Arunachal Pradesh joined the nationwide 'Janata Curfew' in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. State capital Itanagar wore a deserted look as all the usually-busy arterial roads remained empty with people choosing to stay indoors. A few police and media vehicles were seen in the city, besides those of the essential services. Markets and standalone stores in the city and the districts remained shut, barring a few pharmacies, in response to the 14-hour voluntary curfew that began at 7 am.
The Delhi Police offered flowers to people on the streets of the national capital on Sunday, requesting them to stay at home, in view of the 'Janata curfew' proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said. The Delhi Police took to Twitter to create awareness about the 'Janata curfew' and appealed to people to stay indoors. However, those coming out on the roads, are being greeted with roses and requested to remain at home, the officials said. "We are on the roads for your safety. Please stay at home!! Policemen giving flowers to motorists requesting them to stay at home. Please support us," tweeted Eish Singhal, Deputy Commissioner of Police
With six coronavirus cases in the district so far, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has ordered that, as a "pre-emptive" measure, citizens will not be allowed to enter parks and community centres within its limits "till further order". In the order, passed late Saturday night, the MCG Commissioner has stated that the decision has been made "in view of the seriousness of the matter and the situation created by quick spread of this disease (COVID-19)". "No person shall be allowed to enter the Parks/Community Centre within the limit of Municipal Corporation, Gurugram till further order," the order said. People found to be violating this order, it adds, will "be deemed to have committed an offence under Section 188 of the Indian penal Code, 1860". Section 188 relates to "disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.
Curfew-like restrictions on the movement and assembly of people were imposed in Kashmir on Sunday, even as the virtual lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in the valley entered its fourth day. Only government and essential services employees with valid identity cards and emergency cases were allowed to move. Strict curfew-like restrictions on the movement and assembly of people were imposed across all districts of the Kashmir valley on Sunday morning, officials said. They said the deployment of security forces was strengthened and more barricades, including concertina wire, were put up at several places across the valley, including in the city here, to enforce the restrictions.
As the country continued to be under lockdown, PM Modi referred to a video shared by Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Director Mike Hesson to say the citizens are determined to "uproot the coronavirus menace".
Barring a few vehicles, roads in major cities including Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam were empty. State-run transport buses were off the roads while Kochi Metro Rail also stopped its service along with private buses and the auto-rickshaws. State Health Minister K K Shailaja said people must stay at home and avoid crowds while following the directions of the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus. "It's important that people follow the directions of the health department. Strong action will be taken against those who fail to follow the instructions of the state government," Shailaja told reporters. Fire department officials were seen spraying water mixed with disinfectant at many places in Thiruvananthapuram city. Some of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) offices across the state has also initiated cleaning of its premises.
As the coronavirus pandemic grips India, Class 10 and 12 board exams have been postponed and subsequently the college admissions. The competitive entrance exams, as well as recruitment tests for which applicants dedicate years of work, are cancelled till further notice. Those who are already in colleges have been asked to vacate their hostels, as most institutes lack proper medical healthcare facilities nearby. The new normal for students is anything but normal. Dikshant Joshi, an SSC CHSL aspirant from Nanital in Uttrakhand, said it is harder for him to wait for the new exam dates as he had left his job at an MNC to prepare for the government recruitment exam. “I was ready to appear for the SSC CHSL exam when I got to know that it has been postponed. I used to work as a sales and marketing engineering in Mumbai and left my job to prepare for the test. Now, I have started preparation again. I have decided to give at least one mock test daily in order to retain all topics in mind.