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Residents of Pune Raise a Ruckus From Balconies to Cheer on 'Essential' Workers Amid Pandemic

Two days before India entered a nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus, residents of the western city of Pune took to their balconies to pay a rowdy tribute to the country’s essential workers, footage posted on March 22 shows.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a “Janata Curfew” for the day, locking down the country from 7 am to 9 pm, but he encouraged his countrymen to clap or ring bells for five minutes at 5 pm, as a show of appreciation for “medical staff, police, government servants, airline staff, media persons, bus/train/auto operators and those involved in providing home delivery,” local media reported.

This video shows the locals of Pune maintaining social distance in their homes as they abide by Modi’s wish to salute essential workers.

“The residents of the city have proved their patriotism today in a different sense and different way,” a caption accompanying the footage reads, emphasizing that Pune’s people got together to “salute every employee serving the public in this difficult situation.”

As of midnight on March 24, India was placed under a 21-day nationwide lockdown.

India has confirmed 519 infections and 10 deaths due to the virus, as of March 24. Credit: Pune Municipal Corporation via Storyful