Modi's 'Janata Curfew' call turns K'taka into eerie state

 Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for self-imposed curfew from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday to contain Coronavirus spread evoked a massive response, turning Karnataka into an eerie state, as lakhs of people stayed at home, an official said.

"The day began on a positive note with lakhs of people across the southern state staying home in response to Modi's call for a 14-hour janata curfew from morning to night to minimise Coronavirus impact," a state health official told IANS here.

With a partial lockdown already in force since a week till March 31 to avoid crowding at public places and social contacts, citizens remained indoors on a day which is a general holiday for offices, companies, factories, banks, schools and colleges.

"As several flights and trains were cancelled, buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws remained off roads and malls, cinema theatres, markets, shops, eateries, restaurants, clubs and bars shut, the people have not ventured out even in their personal vehicles or on foot," a relieved official asserted.

A few hundreds of passengers who alighted at the main bus stand and the nearby railway station in the city centre after overnight travel from other cities and towns across the state and country, had a harrowing time going home in the absence of public transport, including city buses, taxis and autos.

In a nationwide televised address on March 19, Modi urged the people across the country to stay home on Sunday to prevent them from contracting the communicable disease.

"We are overwhelmed by the people's response to Modi's call to limit the dangerous fallout of COVID-19 by not venturing out of homes and ensuring safe health. Their cooperation will help the government minimize the risk of contracting the infection or exposing to it," the official added.

With five new cases on Saturday, the number of COVID-19 patients rose to 20 across the state, an official told IANS.

In a fervent appeal, state Chief Minister B.S. Yediurappa urged the people to stay home throughout the day to check the fatal virus.

To set an example, Yediyurappa stayed at his personal home in the city's northern suburb and monitored the situation. IANS