Police holding sticks guarded a gateway leading into the capital New Delhi on March 25, the first day of the blockade to prevent Covid-19.

According to orders from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the entire country of 1.3 billion people will be locked down for 21 days to prevent people from leaving their homes.

Police holding sticks guarded a gateway leading into the capital New Delhi on March 25, the first day of the blockade to prevent Covid-19.

According to orders from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the entire country of 1.3 billion people will be locked down for 21 days to prevent people from leaving their homes.

At India Gate, a war memorial located on Rajpath in New Delhi, many barricades were erected following the lockdown.

Only essential services such as electricity, water, health care, firefighting, and grocery stores are allowed to remain.

At India Gate, a war memorial located on Rajpath in New Delhi, many barricades were erected following the lockdown.

Only essential services such as electricity, water, health care, firefighting, and grocery stores are allowed to remain.

The Kolkata city station seemed deserted without the bustling scene of passengers like usual.

India’s blockade is larger than China’s, where about 750 million people have been banned from traveling since January after Covid-19 broke out in Hubei province and spread nationwide.

There are fears that the lockdown could unintentionally spread the disease to rural areas as many migrant workers rush to board buses home to avoid being stuck in the city.

The Kolkata city station seemed deserted without the bustling scene of passengers like usual.

India’s blockade is larger than China’s, where about 750 million people have been banned from traveling since January after Covid-19 broke out in Hubei province and spread nationwide.

There are fears that the lockdown could unintentionally spread the disease to rural areas as many migrant workers rush to board buses home to avoid being stuck in the city.

Residents in an apartment complex in New Delhi are banned from leaving their homes.

Residents in an apartment complex in New Delhi are banned from leaving their homes.

Indian police are imposing strict punishments on people who violate the lockdown.

Indian police are imposing strict punishments on people who violate the lockdown.

Another group of people were punished by squatting and pinching each other’s ears right on the street.

Another group of people were punished by squatting and pinching each other’s ears right on the street.

A traffic policeman holds a sign that reads `For corona to go away, stay home` as he keeps watch on a deserted road in Hyderabad.

A traffic policeman holds a sign that reads `For corona to go away, stay home` as he keeps watch on a deserted road in Hyderabad.

A series of people were fined with their heads down for violating the blockade on a road in the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh state.

A series of people were fined with their heads down for violating the blockade on a road in the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh state.

People are still allowed to go to supermarkets to buy necessities but must keep distance to prevent virus infection.

People are still allowed to go to supermarkets to buy necessities but must keep distance to prevent virus infection.

A young man rides a horse on a road in the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Although India has only recorded more than 650 cases of infection and 12 deaths from nCoV, relatively low compared to China, the US and European countries, there are concerns that living conditions, outdated hygiene and the system

Prime Minister Modi announced 150 billion rupees (nearly 2 billion USD) to support testing, provide isolation beds, ventilators and other essential supplies.

A young man rides a horse on a road in the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Although India has only recorded more than 650 cases of infection and 12 deaths from nCoV, relatively low compared to China, the US and European countries, there are concerns that living conditions, outdated hygiene and the system

Prime Minister Modi announced 150 billion rupees (nearly 2 billion USD) to support testing, provide isolation beds, ventilators and other essential supplies.

People in Kolkata stand in white circles to maintain a safe distance while queuing in front of a pharmacy.

People in Kolkata stand in white circles to maintain a safe distance while queuing in front of a pharmacy.

Police punished lockdown violators by forcing them to sit in white circles to maintain `social distancing` at Vikram Chowk in Jammu.

Police punished lockdown violators by forcing them to sit in white circles to maintain `social distancing` at Vikram Chowk in Jammu.

Photo: Reuters, AFP, PTI