Mumbai, Apr 5 (IANS): The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India has offered 45,000 rooms for quarantine for both tourists and domestic travellers stuck at various locations due to the India lockdown, besides the medical fraternity, an official said.

The hotels range from five-stars to standalone properties and have been selected based on the cluster regions identified by the government, said FHRAI Vice-President Gurbaxish Singh Kohli.

"We appealed to member-hotels and restaurants to fully cooperate with the government and support the cause. Through the regional associations, FHRAI is also offering meals and rooms all over India on a voluntary basis," said Kohli.

Simultaneously, the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has started offering meals, food packets and meal preparation facilities, besides dry rations to the needy.

It is being facilitated in partnership with various state governments, local authorities and NGOs to reach out to the maximum number of those requiring help as the country combats the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Mumbai, the HRAWI has mobilized its members to provide 500,000 meals daily to the needy, besides preparing and distributing 200,000 meals in collaboration with the state and local authorities, said Kohli, who is also President of HRAWI.

While opening their hearts and hotels for the needy, the FHRAI and HRAWI members have been advised to take all precautionary measures and maintain the highest levels of hygiene and cleanliness to prevent any spread of the coronavirus.

In these initiatives, HRAWI members of the hospitality industry from western Indian states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Silvassa are participating, said Kohli.