New Delhi: Millions of Indians across the country switched off lights at their homes and lit candles and diyas or turned on mobile phone torches on Sunday night, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to show the nation's "collective resolve and solidarity" in its fight against coronavirus with this symbolic gesture.
The same gesture could be seen at one of the country's most bustling New Delhi Railway station- where more than 1,100 diyas were lit by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) on Sunday night.
All the security personnel deployed at the station participated in the event, adding the Prime Minister's call more effective.
However, preventive measures like social distancing, face masks and washing hand were also exercised while decorating the railway station.
New Delhi Senior Security Commandant A. N Jha told ETV Bharat, "We have switched off all the lights at 9 pm. All the 52 units that have been deployed for the security purpose of the railway station have participated in the historic event."
Further, Jha appealed the citizens to follow the preventive measures in order to curb the novel coronavirus pandemic.
India's colossal passenger railway system has come to a halt after PM Modi announced the lockdown to keep the coronavirus pandemic from spreading in the country of 1.3 billion.
As India fights COVID-19, citizens from across the nation joined hands to light diyas and candles on PM Modi's appeal to end "darkness" of coronavirus.
In his first video message to the nation since the nationwide lockdown was put in place, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged people to switch off lights of their homes at 9 pm for nine minutes on April 5 and light up lamps, candles, mobile flashlights to display the nation's collective spirit to defeat coronavirus.
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