Mumbai's local trains shut partly after Coronavirus cases rise to 8

Mumbai metropolitan region reported two new cases of Coronavirus on Thursday (March 19), taking the total number of such cases in Mumbai to 8.

One woman had returned from the UK, and another one had a travel history to Dubai.

India saw a steep rise in the number of infected cases after 28 new cases were reported from 10 states on Wednesday (March 18), taking the total number of infected people to 184.

CM Uddhav Thackeray said that the number of suburban trains and buses would be reduced, standees won't be permitted and those seating would be kept at a safe distance as precautionary measures.

Mumbai and Pune — the two worst-hit cities with maximum Coronavirus cases — has visibly reduced commuters in trains and buses. However, the number of private vehicles on roads and highways hasn't shown a noticeable decline so far.

All beaches in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are near-deserted. Prominent hill stations in the Western Ghats, resorts, wildlife sanctuaries, tourist destinations also run almost empty.

All major places of worship like temples, churches, mosques-mausoleums and gurdwaras have shut their doors for devotees. A few religious organisations and sects are offering online prayers, namaz etc. to keep crowds and the virus away.

The state already elapsed into the partial shutdown with all schools, colleges, malls, theatres, cinemas, gyms and swimming pools closed till March 31.

Besides the suburban trains, the decision could also include the Mumbai Metro Rail, Monorail and other public modes of transport which have a potential to virtually paralyse the country's commercial capital.

"There are options -- like fumigating all train coaches, limiting the number of commuters to the seats available in each bogey to avoid crowding -- being considered other than completely stopping the local train services," Tope said.

Read: Coronavirus in India — a visual guide to how the Covid-19 infection is spreading in the country

Sprawled across the Central Railway and its Harbour Line, plus Western Railway, the suburban trains are the lifeline of Mumbai which ferry over 8.50 million commuters daily serving Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts.

Maharashtra currently has 38 COVID-19 positive cases including a 64-year-old coronavirus patient, who passed away at Mumbai's Kasturba Hospital, today.

All upcoming local bodies and civic elections in the state have been postponed by three months, the shutdown of academic institutions in urban centres has been extended to cover all educational institutions even in rural areas.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray announced a special ₹45 crore fund to tackle the pandemic to be distributed among the Divisional Commissioners at Konkan and Pune, while ₹5 crore each will be disbursed to Nagpur, Amravati, Aurangabad and Nashik.

The money would be utilised to provide various facilities at the quarantine centres including food, television sets, indoor games like carroms, etc. The district authorities have been authorised to make emergency purchases of ventilators or required medical equipment.

Thackeray appealed that those who have been advised home quarantine must voluntarily refrain from stepping out in public to prevent any risk to others.

(with inputs from IANS)

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