New Delhi: People across the country came out clapping and beating utensils on Sunday at 5 pm, answering Modi’s call to show gratitude to health workers who are at the forefront of the Covid- 19 fight.

People, locked in their homes for days because of the shutdown over the Covid- 19, appeared in their balconies and porches minutes before 5 pm on Sunday. They tried to boost the morale of health personnel by drumming utensils and gongs. Clanging sounds rang in the air for minutes in several parts of the country. Several people sang bhajans (religious songs) and shouted patriotic slogans to boost the morale of health workers.

Several Chief Ministers in the country, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Telangana CM KCR, AP CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, also took part in the activity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later thanked the people of the country.

The country is set to grind to a halt shortly as railways; metro trains and interstate bus services will be stopped to break the march of Covid- 19. The railways, said it will shut passenger train services till March 31. Interstate buses and metro services would follow the same schedule. Several states, including Punjab and Rajasthan, have announced a complete lockdown that involves shutting down public transport, malls and shops. Only essential services will operate in 75 districts which saw confirmed cases of COVID-19, the government has said.