Chennai, Mar 24 (IANS): Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Tuesday warned of one-year jail term for people who violate the prohibitory orders issued till March 31 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking to reporters, he said that people are coming out and arguing with the police when they have been asked to be confined inside their homes.

He said that people are not taking the lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus seriously. The Chief Minister appealed to the people to be confined to their homes as they did on March 22, the day of the nationwide 'Janata Curfew'.

Narayanasamy warned the violators of prohibitory orders that they can be arrested and jailed for a year as per the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act.

According to him, from Wednesday onwards all shops barring pharmacies, groceries, vegetable/fruit stores and milk booths will remain closed till March 31.