Corona virus: ‘Janata Curfew’ being observed across India today

The entire
country is observing Janata Curfew today following Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s appeal for people to voluntarily stay indoors to check the spread of
Corona virus.

Public
transport has been suspended or curtailed and all markets and shops except
those dealing in essential items are closed. It is a self-regulated drive which
will came into force at 7 today morning and will continue till 9 PM.

Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has called upon people to be a part of the Janata
Curfew, which will add tremendous strength to the fight against COVID-19
menace. In a tweet this morning, Mr Modi requested citizens to become part of
the nationwide campaign and make the fight against Corona a success.

He said, the
steps we take now will help in the times to come. The Prime Minister urged
people to stay indoors and stay healthy. He said, people’s restraint and
determination will defeat the epidemic.

In his
appeal to the nation on 19th March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged public
to avoid stepping out of their homes.

Mr Modi
asked everyone to express gratitude towards doctors, nurses, hospital staff,
sanitation workers, airlines employees, government staff, police personnel,
media people, people associated with train-bus-auto rickshaw services and home
delivery agents.

Cutting
across party lines, Chief Ministers and others leaders  urged the people to follow the self-imposed
curfew. AIR correspondent reports that no passenger train will originate from
any railway station in the country till 10 P.M. tonight while all suburban
train services have been reduced to a bare minimum.

Metro services, including in Delhi, are suspended for the day. Airlines like GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara have announced they are curtailing domestic operations for today. Traders’ body Confederation of All India Traders also announced that they will keep their establishments shut across the country.

In Delhi, 50% of the buses will ply on roads considering some people may have to travel due to an emergency. Autos and taxis, however, are off the roads as several unions decided to join the ‘Janata Curfew’