In an unprecedented shutdown, millions of people across the country are  staying indoors, streets are looking deserted with  just a few vehicles were on the road on Sunday, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for a ‘Janata curfew’ to help check the spread of coronavirus.

People are keeping themselves indoors as part of the social distancing exercise to help stop the spread of the virus  as the 14-hour ‘Janata curfew’ got underway at 7 am and will stay till 9 pm today.

All markets and establishments except those dealing in essential goods and services are closed for the day.

Ahead of the start of the curfew, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “In a few minutes from now, the #JantaCurfew commences. Let us all be a part of this curfew, which will add tremendous strength to the fight against COVID-19 menace”.

He said the steps to be taken now will help in the times to come.

“Stay indoors and stay healthy,” he said on Twitter.

Delhi the capital city bore deserted look with empty roads and barely some private vehicles and buses plying. Vendors were off the roads in the morning hours with people confining themselves to their homes.

In Kashmir, curfew-like restrictions on the movement and assembly of people were in force even as the virtual lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in the valley entered its fourth day.

In Kolkata, the usually bustling Esplanade, and Dalhousie areas, besides airport and railway stations wore a deserted look as people stayed indoors to make Janata Curfew successful.

The Eastern and South Eastern Railway cancelled all mail/express trains originating from the two zones between 4 am and 10 pm on Sunday but will run skeletal local train services on the day.

The worst hit Mumbai so far from Coronavirus, the commercial capital observed the restrictions on Sunday with the usually bustling western and eastern express highways and other arterial roads wearing an empty look and people staying indoors to support the curfew.

After undergoing a political turmoil just a few days ago, Madhya Pradesh where four districts of Jabalpur, Rewa, Seoni and Narsinghpur have been placed under lockdown, roadside shops and eateries remained closed in the state today.

Gujarat, the home state of PM Modi  too on Sunday gave a good response to his call as the entire state was in a self-imposed lockdown to fight the coronavirus.

Streets were empty and shops and business establishments remained shut in the state.

Goa, the tourist hub, followed the curfew call with empty streets and beaches.The Goa Church cancelled its Sunday masses all over the coastal state to avoid crowding.

Jantata Curfew was seen in Tamil Nadu as well, with a virtual standstill of the state. All roads, bus and railway stations were deserted and retail stores closed

Both State run and private buses, autos and taxis did not operate in most parts of Tamil Nadu.

Many Chief Ministers others leaders have urged the people to follow the self-imposed curfew, noting that “social distancing” was key to breaking the chain of transmission, as the number of coronavirus cases rose to 324 on Sunday.

States like Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Bihar have announced either complete or partial lockdown till the month end.

Today, except for businesses and public administration dealing in essential items and services, rest all will remain shut. The public transport will be effected in a big way. Railways said that no passenger train will originate from any railway station in the country from midnight to 10 pm on Sunday while all suburban train services will be reduced to a bare minimum as well. Metro services, including in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai, will remain suspended for the day. Air carriers like GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara have announced that they will be curtailing domestic operations on Sunday.

Traders’ body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has announced that they will keep their establishments shut across the country for the ‘Janata curfew’.

The number of Covid-19 cases in India rose to 324, according to the Health Ministry. These cases include 296 active cases, 4 deaths and 23 people who have recovered from the virus .