The total number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 341 on Sunday. (Image for representation: PTI)

The central and state governments on Sunday decided to impose complete lockdown in 75 districts across the country where novel coronavirus cases have been reported so far. The lockdown will continue till March 31. This decision was taken at a high-level meeting between representatives of the Centre and the state governments today. It comes in the backdrop of the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak in India with the total number of cases touching 341 on Sunday.

In the meeting that was attended by chief secretaries of all states and the cabinet secretary and the principal secretary to the prime minister, it was agreed that inter-state bus services should be suspended till March 31. This was to prevent the viral infection from spreading further.

"In view of the need to contain the spread of the deadly Covid-19, it was agreed that there was an urgent need to extend the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport, including interstate transport buses till March 31," a Union Home Ministry official said.

"State governments will issue orders allowing only essential services to operate in about 75 districts with confirmed Covid-19 cases or casualties," the official said.

The districts where lockdown was announced are from states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

It was noted that several state governments have already issued orders in this regard. All chief secretaries informed that there was an "overwhelming and spontaneous" response to the call for 'Janata curfew' given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the official said.

The state governments may expand the list of essential services that will be allowed during the lockdown depending on their assessment of the situation.

In the meeting, it was decided to suspend all train services till March 31, including sub-urban rail services. However, goods trains have been exempted. All metro rail services across the country have also been suspended till March 31.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai has announced clampdown in nine districts in the state -- Bangalore urban, Bangalore rural, Mangalore, Mysore, Kalburgi, Dharwad, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu, Belgaum -- where only essential services will work. He said that inter-district transportation across the nine districts will be suspended till March 31.

Basavaraj Bommai said industries should use only 50 per cent of labour if needed during this global crisis.

On Sunday, Section 144 was imposed in Maharashtra and Delhi. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a press conference announced that the national capital will under lockdown from 6am on Monday till March 31.

Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Luv Agrawal, during a press conference advised districts, from where Covid-19 cases have been reported, to call for a lockdown, however, he said, groceries, fire services, food and milk should still be available for people. He said that states must decide on essential services.

According to the Union health ministry, the total number of novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 341 on Sunday after fresh cases were reported from Telangana, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

Millions of people across the country stayed indoors, streets wore a deserted look and bare number of vehicles were on the road on Sunday in an unprecedented shutdown on Modi's appeal for a 'Janata curfew' to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed over 13,000 lives worldwide.

(With inputs from Nagarjun, Snehanshu, PTI)