Maharashtra, home to financial centre Mumbai, has the biggest share of India’s caseload of 15,713 infections, including a large number now ripping through its densely-packed slums.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told a news conference that some activity would be permitted in the least-affected parts of the state while observing a strict lockdown in the red zones that have the maximum number of cases.

File image of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Twitter@OfficeofUT

“We need to start the economic wheels again. We are giving selective permissions from tomorrow, especially in orange zones and green zones,” he said, referring to areas with lower levels of infection.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the nationwide lockdown that began late last month until 3 May, but the Union government has allowed states to restart activity amid economic distress in rural areas.

Farming, highway construction and manufacturing will be allowed in hinterland areas not heavily affected by the virus this week, the federal government said.

Thousands of migrant workers fled the big cities for their homes in the countryside, unable to pay for rent or food after the shutdown went into force.

But Delhi’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, said there would be no easing of rules in the capital, which accounts for over a third of cases

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On Tuesday, a Mumabai man lost his life due to coronavirus. This was third death in the country due the dreaded disease. The man was 63-years-old. Health Ministry officials told PTI that number of infections in the country has touched 126.

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