Strengthening precautions against COVID-19 Indian Railways has decided that no passenger train will run up to 31st… https://t.co/8pUYgNckJq — Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) 1584869121000

More on Covid-19

NEW DELHI: The government on Sunday suspended all non-essential passenger transport including trains, inter-state buses and metros till March 31 amid a spurt in the coronavirus cases across the country.In a statement, the Cabinet Secretariat said a meeting was held on Sunday with the chief secretaries of all states by the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.A statement issued after the meeting said in view of the need to contain the spread of COVID-19, it was agreed that there is urgent need to extend the restrictions on the movement of non-essential passenger transport, including inter-state transport buses, till March 31.The railways announced suspension of all its passenger services from March 22 midnight to March 31 midnight and said only goods trains will run during the said period.Suburban train services will also remain suspended till March 31 midnight.The national transporter said in continuation of the measures taken in view of the coronavirus outbreak, it was decided that all passenger train services, including premium trains, mail and express trains, passenger trains, suburban trains, Kolkata Metro Rail, Konkan Railway, will be cancelled till the midnight of March 31.The trains that had already commenced their journey prior to 4 am on March 22 will run up to their respective destinations, the railways said, adding that adequate arrangements would be made for the passengers during the travel and at their destinations.Also, it was decided that all metro rail services and inter-state buses will be suspended till March 31.The death toll due to the novel coronavirus in the country rose to five on Sunday with the Union health ministry confirming the death of a second Covid-19 patient in Maharashtra.