COVID-19: India goes silent as 1.3 billion told to stay home

This combination of aerial photos shows deserted roads in New Delhi during the first day of a 21-day government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus

General view of the deserted Bandra-–Worli Sea Link during the lockdown, in Mumbai. The world's largest democracy went under the world's biggest lockdown Wednesday, with India's 1.3 billion people ordered to stay home in a bid to stop the coronavirus pandemic from spreading and overwhelming its fragile health care system as it has done elsewhere.

Police personnel stand guard at Bara Imambara during the lockdown, in Lucknow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a total lockdown of the country in a bid to contain the new coronavirus outbreak.

Roads wear deserted look amid the lockdown against coronavirus, in Agra

A view of the parked buses at Bus Depot amid lockdown, in Bengaluru

A plainclothe policeman wields his baton against a man as a punishment for breaking the lockdown rules, in Kolkata

Indian paramilitary soldiers stand guard on a deserted street during lockdown in Srinagar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a cabinet meeting as ministers maintain social distancing in the wake of coronavirus pandemic

Police punish violators amid lockdown in the state in wake of coronavirus, in Bhopal

An aerial view of a deserted city street during the lockdown, in Jabalpur

Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station wears the deserted look amid the lockdown

A view of the deserted Hazra crossing near the residence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during lockdown, in Kolkata

Aeroplanes halt on runways at the airport as all domestic and international flights were cancelled due to the 21-day nationwide lockdown, in Chennai

A vegetbale market bustling with activity during a nationwide lockdown, in Mathura

A banner informing devotees that the temple is shut as a safety measure is displayed outside a Hindu temple in Dharmsala, during the lockdown

A deserted view of General post office during the lockdown, in Kolkata

Armed security personnel stand guard at Charminar during the lockdown, in Hyderabad

Deserted Telegu Talli flyover during the complete lockdown, in Hyderabad

A security man stands guard at a deserted railway station in Prayagraj

Deserted city roads during complete lockdown, in Coimbatore

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Train Terminus wears a deserted look in Mumbai

Social distancing was seen as people standing in a queue outside a medical store at Bengali Market in New Delhi

Empty fishing boats are anchored in the waters of Vembanad Lake during the nationwide lockdown, in Kochi

Police personnel punish offenders flouting lockdown guidelines, at Chakeri area of Kanpur

Birds gather on the Chowpatty beach during the first day of a 21-day government-imposed nationwide lockdown, in Mumbai

A woman walks along a near-empty street during the lockdown, in New Delhi

Kanaka Durga temple looks deserted during the lockdown, in Vijayawada

Indian paramilitary personnel stand on a deserted road during a complete lockdown, in Gauhati

Dabbawalas celebrate Gudhi Padwa while maintaining social distancing, during a nationwide lockdown, in Mumbai

A worker sprays disinfectants on a road during the nationwide lockdown, in Kolkata

People rush late Tuesday night to buy food material after PM Modi's announcement of lockdown, in Patna

Pigeons fly at a deserted Gateway of India monument in Mumbai

Police officers stop vehicles and check their papers on a highway during the lockdown, in Kochi

People walk on a deserted road duringthe lockdown, in Shimla

A policeman, left and a civil defense person, second left, make people perform sit ups while holding their ear lobes, as a punishment for stepping out without a valid reason during the lockdown, in Ahmedabad

Migrant workers and their families board a truck to return to their villages after India declared a day nationwide lockdown, in Ahmedabad

A traffic person raises his baton at a commuter, who defied curfew during a nationwide lockdown, in Guwahati

General view of a deserted road during the lockdown, in Mumbai

A view of the deserted road during complete lockdown, in Srinagar

Police personnel check communters, who defied curfew during a nationwide lockdown, in Agartala

A deserted street is seen outside the closed New Delhi Railway station during the nationwide lockdown

CRPF personnel stand guard on a deserted road during complete lockdown, in Srinagar

People make their way on a deserted street during a government-imposed lockdown, in Siliguri

Policemen issue a fine to a motorist at a roadblock during the nationwide lockdown at Delhi-Haryana border in Faridabad

People buy essential commodities in a grocery shop in Gauhati amid the nationwide lockdown

Security personnel stand guard outside Ranchi Railway station during the lockdown

A plainclothe policeman wields his baton against a man as a punishment for breaking the lockdown rules, in Kolkata

A kite flies over deserted roundabout during the lockdown, in New Delhi