<p>The output of eight core infrastructure industries shrank by a record 38.1 per cent in April due to the coronavirus lockdown, according to the official data.</p>.<p>The eight core sectors had expanded by 5.2 per cent in April 2019, the data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Friday showed.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-in-india-news-live-updates-total-cases-deaths-covid-19-tracker-today-worldometer-update-lockdown-40-latest-news-838583.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates on coronavirus here</strong></a></p>.<p>In March this year, the production of eight sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement, and electricity -- had contracted by 9 per cent.</p>.<p>"In view of nationwide lockdown during April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, various industries - Coal, Cement, Steel, Natural Gas, Refinery, Crude Oil etc experienced substantial loss of production," the ministry said in a statement. </p>
<p>The output of eight core infrastructure industries shrank by a record 38.1 per cent in April due to the coronavirus lockdown, according to the official data.</p>.<p>The eight core sectors had expanded by 5.2 per cent in April 2019, the data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Friday showed.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-in-india-news-live-updates-total-cases-deaths-covid-19-tracker-today-worldometer-update-lockdown-40-latest-news-838583.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates on coronavirus here</strong></a></p>.<p>In March this year, the production of eight sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement, and electricity -- had contracted by 9 per cent.</p>.<p>"In view of nationwide lockdown during April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, various industries - Coal, Cement, Steel, Natural Gas, Refinery, Crude Oil etc experienced substantial loss of production," the ministry said in a statement. </p>