Centre’s lockdown same as that in place in Maha: Govt

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government clarified late on Tuesday that essential and emergency services have been exempted from the 21-day nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as people across the state panicked and thronged markets.

Modi, too, said in a tweet that there was no need to panic as essential commodities, medicines, among others would be available. “Centre and various state governments will work in close co-ordination to ensure this,” the

PM tweeted.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray reiterated that the lockdown remained the same as the one announced by him on Monday to battle the coronavirus disease pandemic. “There is no difference from the lockdown we imposed on Monday. I have spoken to the Prime Minister. He has assured me no essential and emergency services will be affected. Besides health services, grocery shops, banks and other essential services will continue to operate. There is no scarcity of food grains in the state and citizens should not worry about supply,” said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s tally of infected people on Tuesday

rose by 10 to 107, even as Mumbai reported its third Covid-19 death after a 65-year-old man died after he was admitted to Kasturba Hospital. Officials said he had a history of high blood pressure and hypertension.

Anticipating a sharp jump in cases, the state directed administrations in Mumbai and Pune to identify hospitals that will only treat Covid-19 cases. As a contingency plan, the state is exploring the possibility of building a makeshift hospital with the help of the Army and has asked automobile manufacturers if they could manufacture ventilators.

PRAMOD THAKUR/HT Mumbaiites shop for vegetables at Goregaon after PM Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown. Panicking citizens were seen crowding markets across the city to stock up on commodities, on Tuesday night, even though authorities said essential supplies won’t be curbed.