Chennai, March 22 (IANS): Tamil Nadu government on Sunday extended the time of Janata Curfew till 5 a.m. on Monday to contain the spread of coronavirus.

In a statement issued here the government said keeping in mind the welfare of the public the Janata Curfew time has been extended till 5 a.m. on Monday while the essential services will continue to operate.

On Sunday, the state turned silent as there was total shutdown in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for Janata Curfew between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. as a measure to contain the spread of coronavirus.

In many places people skipped their early morning walking exercise. Even the beaches here which generally would be teeming with morning walkers wore deserted look as the government ordered the closure of beaches and parks.

However, milk and newspaper delivery persons didn't skip their routine.

"There is total silence in my locality and nobody is on the roads. I am able to hear the leaves rustle when there is a breeze. It has been ages since it was like this," an old time resident of a locality near Luz in South Chennai told IANS.

All the roads including the bylanes were empty with people deciding to remain indoors.

Public transport, government buses, trains, autorickshaws, call taxis are off the roads.

Health authorities are sanitising the railway/bus stations as these places are empty now.

The railway/bus stations, airports, vegetable markets and other places that usually see milling crowds on Sunday were also deserted.

The restaurants, hotels, roadside eateries and other shops were also shut in most of the places in the state.