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In Pictures

Gallery|Coronavirus pandemic

In Pictures: India holds 14-hour coronavirus lockdown

Indians put under ‘people’s curfew’ as millions clap and bang utensils to cheer on health workers fighting the pandemic.

A view of Bandra-Worli sea link over the Arabian Sea is seen during a 14-hour long curfew to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, in Mumbai, India, March 22, 2020. REU
A view of Mumbai's Bandra-Worli sea link over the Arabian Sea as seen during a 14-hour lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus. [Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters]
Published On 22 Mar 202022 Mar 2020
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Nearly a billion Indians stayed indoors on Sunday, heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s appeal to citizens to self-isolate as authorities battle to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

At least 324 people so far have contracted the disease while four have died in India, according to official data.

While the lockdown is voluntary and not an outright ban on the movement of people, Modi’s appeal for social distancing has helped dramatically reduce the number of people taking to India’s densely crowded streets.

Modi asked India’s 1.3 billion people to stay home on Sunday and collectively cheer for front-line healthcare workers at 5pm local time (11:30 GMT).

Shortly before 5pm, the cacophony in capital New Delhi began as people on balconies and rooftops clapped, rang bells, banged on pots and pans, played music recordings and set off fireworks, sending crows and parakeets streaming from treetops, and stray dogs and cows into the deserted streets.

People clap from balconies in show of appreciation to health care workers at a Chawl in Mumbai, India, Sunday, March 22, 2020. India is Sunday observing a 14-hour "people''s curfew" called by Prime Min
People in Mumbai clap from balconies in a show of appreciation for healthcare workers. [Rafiq Maqbool/AP Photo]
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A man shows his hand which was stamped by airport authorities as he was advised for home quarantine after he arrived from overseas, amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) fears, in Mumbai, India, March 2
A man shows his hand that was stamped by airport authorities. He was advised to quarantine at home after he arrived from overseas, amid the coronavirus pandemic in Mumbai. [Prashant Waydande/Reuters]
NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 22: Indian policemen push barricades to place them in the center of a a road leading to historic India Gate, during a one-day nationwide Janata (civil) curfew imposed as a pr
Indian policemen push barricades into the centre of a road leading to New Delhi's historic India Gate during a one-day curfew imposed as a preventive measure against COVID-19. [Yawar Nazir/Getty Images]
Indians bang pans, blow con shells and claps in show of appreciation to health care workers in Prayagraj, India, Sunday, March 22, 2020. India is observing a 14-hour "people''s curfew" called by Prime
Indians bang pans, blow conch shells and clap in a show of appreciation for healthcare workers in Prayagraj city. [Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP Photo]
People, in a residential complex, clap and bang utensils from their balconies in show of appreciation to health care workers in Greater Noida, a suburb of New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 22, 2020. Ind
India observed a 14-hour 'people's curfew' called by PM Narendra Modi to stem the rising coronavirus caseload in the country. [Altaf Qadri/AP Photo]
Indians bang utensils outside their home to cheer health workers in Hyderabad, India, Sunday, March 22, 2020. India is Sunday observing a 14-hour "people''s curfew" called by Prime Minister Narendra Mo
Indians bang utensils outside their home to cheer on health workers in Hyderabad. [Mahesh Kumar A/AP Photo]
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A view shows Howrah bridge during a 14-hour long curfew to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, in Kolkata, India, March 22, 2020. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri - RC2SOF9
A view of Kolkata's iconic Howrah Bridge during the 14-hour curfew to limit the spread of coronavirus. [Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters]
Families of roadside shopkeepers ring bell and clap to cheer health workers following coronavirus outbreaks, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 22, 2020. India is observing a 14-hour "people''s curfew"
Families of roadside shopkeepers ring bells and clap to celebrate health workers, in New Delhi. [Manish Swarup/AP Photo]
People clap and bang utensils from their balconies to cheer for emergency personnel and sanitation workers who are on the frontlines in the fight against coronavirus, in Mumbai, India, March 22, 2020.
People in Mumbai clap and bang utensils from their balconies to cheer on emergency personnel and sanitation workers on the front lines in the fight against coronavirus. [Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters]


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