India has announced the resumption of some of its rail network giant services starting today, after about seven weeks of stopping in the framework of general isolation measures to combat the emerging corona virus, despite its recording the largest increase in the number of cases of the disease in one day.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced growing calls for an end to the general isolation measures imposed across the country of 1.3 billion people, as political parties, companies and individuals have said that these measures have destroyed the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on daily wages in India. The isolation measures, which have been extended more than once, to control the increase in the number of infections, are valid until May 17. But the Ministry of Railways has said it will gradually restore services with 15 passenger trains starting today, connecting Delhi to Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and other major cities.
"After that, the Indian railways will start providing more special services to other destinations," the government said in a statement. A government official said passengers traveling on trains that will operate today must wear masks and undergo examination.
The announcement came late, on the evening of yesterday, a partial resumption of train services on the day that new cases of coronavirus were recorded, which is the highest jump in India, reaching 4,214 cases, bringing the total to 67152.
Yesterday, the Indian Ministry of Health said that the number of deaths due to the emerging corona virus had reached 2206.
15 trains will be operated from today to connect Delhi to major cities.