India under lockdown in pictures: Day 1

On March 24, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, which has been declared a pandemic by WHO, India will be under lockdown for 21 days from March 25 midnight. As the nation battles to check the spreading of the virus, let us take a look at how the country having a humungous population looks like during the lockdown.

A police personnel distributes free food to a man in need during the first day of a 21-day government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 (AFP Photo)

Residents dressed in traditional attire celebrate Marathi New Year (Gudi Padwa), during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. (PTI Photo)

People maintaining social distancing outside grocery store

Boats anchored at Old Port Dakke in Mangaluru. Dh photos/ Govindraj Javali

A man sits on the stairs of a pedestrian bridge in New Delhi. (Reuters photo)

A boy plays on a near-empty street in New Delhi. (Reuters photo)

Empty fishing boats are anchored in the waters of Vembanad Lake in Kochi. (Reuters photo)

A man cycles along a deserted road in New Delhi. (AFP Photo)

A policeman stands guard at a road checkpoint in New Delhi. (AFP Photo)