Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
Video Producer: Sonal Gupta
India is staying indoors – the usually crowded streets of India wore a deserted look on Sunday, 22 March, as citizens adhered to the self-imposed 'Janata Curfew' called for by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Shops shut their doors, motorists stayed inside, and police personnel made sure that rule-breakers were schooled about their duty.
From Delhi to Bangalore, Dehradun to Kolkata, the curfew was followed across the nation. The Quint brings to you a glimpse of Sunday's quiet, deserted, responsible India, far from the madding crowd.
Delhi-NCR
The national capital region (NCR) adhered strictly to the curfew, with empty roads and deserted shopping areas. Meanwhile, the DMRC took a day off too, and posted a tongue-in-cheek photo of two metro trains practising social distancing.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi has mounted to 27 including one death, PTI reported.
West Bengal
Following appeals from politicians and local celebrities, most areas of West Bengal stayed clear and adhered to the curfew. However, images from Kolkata showed people crowding at stations, and not maintaining proper distance as advised by medical practitioners.
Maharashtra
The worst affected state of India, Maharashtra, strictly stuck to the curfew guidelines. Images of the beaches and the normally jam-packed roads spread on social media. Even tourist spots like Marine Drive were silent and unpopulated.
Hyderabad, Bangalore: IT Hubs Stand Deserted
Heavy Police Presence in Jammu and Kashmir
UP, Bihar and North India
Urged by politicians, such as UP's CM Yogi Adityanath, most of North India stayed indoors to mark the ‘Janta Curfew’. Pictures emerged of deserted streets, as well of of some good samaritans taking the day as an opportunity to help police officials,
Empty Beaches
Fishermen deserted their boats, and tourists abandoned their travels, as beaches from Gujarat to Kerala lay deserted.
The Northeast
The ‘Janta Curfew’ was in full force in the northeastern states of India. Empty roads, quiet streets and shut shops dominated the images on social media.
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