Prepare but don’t panic should be our mantra says PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with the members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations in wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the region and said that India’s guiding mantra in dealing with outbreak is ‘Prepare, but don’t panic’.

Addressing the video conference, the Prime Minister said that India started screening people entering the country from mid-January itself, while gradually increasing restrictions on travel. PM Modi further said that the step-by-step approach has helped India avoid panic.

“Our people-to-people ties are ancient and our societies are deeply interconnected. Therefore, we must all prepare together, act together and succeed together. As we prepare to face this challenge, let me briefly share India’s experience of combating the spread of this virus so far. ‘Prepare, but don’t panic’ has been our guiding mantra,” PM Modi said.PM Modi also said that India responded to the call of its people abroad and evacuated nearly 1,400 Indians from different countries while adding that New Delhi also helped some citizens of neighbouring countries by evacuating them from coronavirus-hit nations.