Hundreds of paramilitary forces have been deployed in coronavirus-hotspot Gujarat as the country yesterday faced a surge in the number of deaths and infections from the outbreak.
Official data show the deadly disease is taking a growing toll in the country of 1.3bn people even as it begins to emerge from the world’s largest lockdown.
India had 56,000 cases including 1,886 fatalities as of yesterday, official figures showed.
But experts fear limited testing and incomplete record keeping are masking the true scale of the health crisis.
The number of deaths has doubled to about 100 a day in the past two weeks, while the rate of infections is doubling about every 10 days, official data show.
A week ago it was every 12 days.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said there was no uncontrolled “community transmission”.
“India has surprised the world by handling the Covid-19 crisis in a more mature way than some of the most developed countries,” Vardhan said.
“Given all the constraints, India has worked with speed, scale, determination and decisiveness.”
While the known number of deaths is low compared with the US and the worst-hit European nations, health specialists say India’s pandemic curve may only peak in June or July.
Gujarat has become one of the most severe hotspots with about 6,500 cases.
Hundreds of paramilitaries began patrolling Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara cities yesterday to keep people off the streets in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
Ahmedabad, with a population of more than 5.5mn people and 70% of the state’s virus cases, has become one of India’s hardest-hit cities along with Mumbai and New Delhi.
Many streets have been barricaded and most food stores are shuttered.
“Since many vegetable vendors and store owners have tested positive in the last few days, all shops, except milk stores and pharmacies, were ordered closed for at least one week,” said Ahmedabad municipal commissioner Mukesh Kumar.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray yesterday ruled out deployment of army to control crowds in Mumbai, but hinted at lockdown extension as the “virus chain” has not yet been broken.
In an address to the state late yesterday evening, Thackeray dismissed all speculation raging since two days that Mumbai would be handed over to the Indian army.
“There’s no need to bring in the army in Mumbai. Our police are very capable and doing a great job, but they also need rest. We have sought additional manpower from the Centre and later the police will be given relief in phases,” said Thackeray.
Admitting that the ‘virus chain’ has not yet been broken, he pointed out that Maharashtra continues to have the highest number of cases and deaths in the country which is a matter of serious concern.
Gujarat Police personnel arrive in Shahpur area yesterday after incidents of stone pelting during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus.
