Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s abrupt announcement of a strict 21-day nationwide lockdown, starting from midnight Tuesday, has sparked a frenzy of panic buying, as urban consumers mobbed pharmacies and food shops immediately after his address.
In his speech, Mr Modi warned that anyone stepping out of their house could face criminal prosecution, as he sternly ordered India’s 1.37bn people to stay home for the next 21 days.
Mr Modi assured people that the government would work to maintain supplies of essential commodities, such as milk, fruits and vegetables. But he was vague about how people were supposed to obtain such essentials if they were not permitted to set foot outside their home.
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