Millions of people across the country stayed indoors, streets wore a deserted look and a bare number of vehicles were on the road on Sunday in an unprecedented shutdown on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for a 'Janta curfew' to help check the spread of coronavirus.

As the 14-hour 'Janta curfew' got underway at 7 am, people kept themselves indoors as part of the social distancing exercise to help stop the spread of the virus.

All markets and establishments except those dealing in essential goods and services are closed for the day. The 'Janta curfew' will end at 9 pm.

In a few minutes from now, the #JantaCurfew commences. Let us all be a part of this curfew, which will add tremendous strength to the fight against COVID-19 menace. The steps we take now will help in the times to come. Stay indoors and stay healthy. #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/11HJsAWzVf — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 22, 2020

Ahead of the start of the curfew, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "In a few minutes from now, the #JantaCurfew commences. Let us all be a part of this curfew, which will add tremendous strength to the fight against COVID-19 menace".

He said the steps to be taken now will help in the times to come.

"Stay indoors and stay healthy," he said on Twitter.

In the national capital, roads were deserted with barely some private vehicles and buses plying. Vendors were off the roads in the morning hours with people confining themselves to their homes.

Follow latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak here

Curfew-like restrictions on the movement and assembly of people were in force in Kashmir as part of the prime minister's appeal even as the virtual lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in the valley entered its fourth day.

In Kolkata, the usually bustling Esplanade, and Dalhousie areas, besides airport and railway stations wore a deserted look as people stayed indoors to support the prime minister's call.

Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths

The Eastern and South Eastern Railway cancelled all mail/express trains originating from the two zones between 4 am and 10 pm on Sunday but will run skeletal local train services on the day.

Commercial capital Mumbai observed the restrictions on Sunday with the usually bustling western and eastern express highways and other arterial roads wearing an empty look and people staying indoors to support the curfew.

In Madhya Pradesh where four districts of Jabalpur, Rewa, Seoni and Narsinghpur have been placed under lockdown, roadside shops and eateries remained closed in the state on Sunday.

The 'Janta curfew' call received a good response in Gujarat on Sunday as the entire state was in a self-imposed lockdown to fight the coronavirus.

Streets were empty and shops and business establishments remained shut in the state.

Roads, railway stations and airports in the state's four major cities - Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot -wore a deserted look on Sunday morning.

Tourist destination Goa followed the curfew call with streets and beaches off the road.

Except for essential services, everything else including bus services, commercial establishments, restaurants, markets and places of worship were shut and people remained home.

The Goa Church cancelled its Sunday masses all over the coastal state to avoid crowding

In solidarity with the prime minister's call, Tamil Nadu came to a virtual standstill with roads, bus and rail stations deserted and retail stores closed.

Although some vehicular movement could be seen in major roads of the State, these were largely private vehicles and the numbers were minuscule.

Both State-run and private buses, autos and taxis did not operate in most parts of Tamil Nadu.

Cutting across party lines, chief ministers and others leaders have urged the people to follow the self-imposed curfew, noting that "social distancing" was key to breaking the chain of transmission, as the number of coronavirus cases rose to 324 on Sunday.

States like Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Bihar have announced either complete or partial lockdown till the month-end.

No passenger train from any railway station in the country has originated beginning Saturday night and the restriction will continue till 10 pm on Sunday while all suburban train services will be reduced to a bare minimum as well. Metro services, including in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai, has been suspended for the day.

Air carriers like GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara have curtailed domestic operations on Sunday.

Traders' body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had announced that they will keep their establishments shut across the country for the 'Janta curfew'.

Modi had on Thursday called for the 'Janta curfew' from 7 am to 9 pm on March 22, saying no citizen, barring those in essential services, should get out of their houses, and asserted that it will be a litmus test to show India's readiness to take on the coronavirus challenge.