India eases lockdown for rural areas despite record spike in coronavirus cases

But people living in major cities will see little change in restrictions that have meant not leaving home for almost a month except to buy food or medicines, Adam Withnall reports

Collecting marigold flowers from a field during the nationwide lockdown at Abdullian village, near the India-Pakistan international border, on 20 April (EPA)

India began easing lockdown restrictions in some areas on Monday despite recording its biggest single-day spike in new coronavirus cases so far, as the Modi administration tried to avoid what would be the first recession in the country’s modern-day history.

The national lockdown in India, one of the strictest in the world, is scheduled to continue at least until 3 May, but with millions out of work and short on food the government has said that farmers and manufacturers can go back to work in rural areas, and freight trucks will be allowed to move between states.

People living in major cities like Delhi and Mumbai will see little change in a lockdown that has meant not leaving home except to buy food or medicines since 22 March – almost a full month.