Enthusiastic clapping, beating of plates

Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 22

Thousands of people came out in balconies, windows and on terraces of their houses in the city and clapped their hands, banged plates and pans with spoons to salute those part of the war against Covid-19 for five minutes in the evening today.

An encouraging response was witnessed to the call for clapping given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the nation on Thursday. He had also appealed to people to observe the Janata Curfew from 7 am to 9 pm today.

Residents from various parts of the city had responded by clapping and beating plates and pans to express gratitude to doctors, nurses, paramedics, municipal staff and armed forces, who are risking their lives to keep the nation healthy. For several enthusiasts, the clapping started way before 5 pm and many were seen clapping beyond the stipulated five minutes.

Manmohan Lal, a resident of Phase VII, said his family and residents in the neighbourhood responded to the call given by the Prime Minister by remaining indoors and clapped and banged plates to thank the doctors, health workers and municipal staff and defence forces. He said it was a good that the state government had announced complete lockdown.

Manmeet Singh, a resident of Phase 3B2, said he had just gone to the terrace to witness the response of the people to the call given by the Prime Minister. He said to his utter surprise, almost every balcony, doorsteps and terraces of the houses in his sector were full of people clapping and bagging plates. He said people advised home quarantined should follow the instructions given by the health authorities.