Indians crowded grocery stores and chemists on Wednesday in a struggle for essential items after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lock-down for 21 days to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.
This new measure is in response to a sharp increase in cases and 10 reported deaths.
The prime minister appealed to people not to panic, saying thronging shops will pose the risk of spread of COVID-19.
All non-essential businesses and schools will be closed but hospitals and other medical facilities will continue to function as normal.
Anyone flouting the new rules could face up to two years in prison and heavy fines.
India which has a population of 1.3 billion people, joins a growing list of countries that have imposed similar measures.
