India prepares for lockdown as coronavirus death toll rises to 7

India reported three more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, including first casualties from Bihar and Gujarat, taking toll to seven and number of COVID-19 cases rose to 341, officials said, as authorities suspended all train passenger and inter-state bus services till March 31 in unprecedented steps to contain spread of infection.

A 38-year-old man with a kidney ailment and recent travel history to Qatar died at AIIMS-Patna and a 67-year-old man died at a hospital in Surat in Gujarat, state officials said, but Union Health Ministry was yet to confirm deaths. Ar death was reported from Mumbai of a 63-year-old man.

As virus cases climbed, central and state governments decided to lock down 75 districts from where COVID-19 cases have been reported to break chain of transmission, and Health Ministry said states would earmark hospitals to exclusively treat coronavirus patients.

Millions of people stayed indoors to observe a "Janta Curfew on Sunday after an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break chain of transmission, but y stood outside ir homes or in ir balconies at 5pm to thank health workers at forefront of fight against virus.

Beating bells, metal vessels and conchs, people ackwledged services of thousands of doctors, nurse and or medical staff leading India's response to deadly virus and making sure essential services remain unhindered. Prime Minister Modi thanked people for expressing ir gratitude and solidarity.

Shortly reafter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal anunced that his government was placing national capital under a lock down from 6 am on March 23 and will continue till midnight March 31. Essential services will continue, Kejriwal said. Several states, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, anunced partial or complete lockdown for varying periods. Nagaland said it will impose an indefinite lockdown from midnight Sunday.

READ: UNMISSABLE: Arnab Completes Adnan Sami's 'Lift Kara De' With Custom Janta Curfew Lyrics

Earlier Sunday, Railways anunced it was suspending all passenger services until March 31 and said only goods trains will run during period. suspension includes all suburban train services. Trains that commenced ir journey prior to 4 am on March 22 will complete ir journeys, it said, adding that passengers can claim a full refund for trains cancelled during this period till June 21.

government also suspended all inter-state bus services until March 31. country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India said it has decided to suspend production at its facilities in Haryana that churn 15.5 lakh vehicles per annum with immediate effect.

extraordinary decisions were taken by government a day after Railways reported three incidents (12 positive cases) of people asked to remain in quarantine travelling on trains and amid an exodus of people from urban areas to ir home states, raising fears of virus spreading to countryside.

A Union Home Ministry official said Centre and state governments decided to completely lockdown 75 districts Delhi Police said prohibitory orders have been imposed in Delhi till March 31, adding that protests and or garings of people have been banned. Delhi government urged residents to remain indoors even after "Janta Curfew" ends.

West Bengal government said in a tification that Kolkata and several or areas of state will be under lockdown from Monday 5 pm till Mar 27. According to Health Ministry, Maharashtra has reported highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases at 63, followed by Kerala (52) and Delhi (27).

Uttar Pradesh has recorded 25 cases, Telangana 21 cases, Rajasthan 24 cases, Haryana 17 cases. Karnataka has 20 patients. Punjab and Ladakh have 13 cases each. Gujarat has 14 cases while Tamil Nadu has 6 cases. Chandigarh has reported five cases. Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and West Bengal reported four cases each. Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand reported three cases each. Odisha and Himachal Pradesh reported 2 cases each. Puducherry and Chhattisgarh reported one case each.

Indian Council of Medical Research said y are ramping up testing efforts, but added that y won't do indiscriminate testing for COVID-19. strategy is to test only those who show symptoms, its director general said. paramilitary forces, comprising about 10 lakh personnel, also ordered immediate suspension of movement of troops and directed m to ''be where y are'' till April 5, officials said.

READ: COVID-19: People Play Poker With Toilet Paper At London Club, Netizens Divided