India records largest single-day spike of 1,887 cases, 71 deaths; MHA allows stranded to return home

New Delhi, Apr 29, With 1,887 fresh cases and 71 more deaths, India on Wednesday registered highest single-day spike in infections as well as in fatalities.
As per the latest data from Union Health Ministry, the total cases reached 31,787 while deaths crossed 1,000-mark and stood at 1,008.
Maharashtra reported 728 fresh cases and 31 more deaths in past 24 hours, making the state worst-affected with 9,318 cases and 400 deaths.
At distant second, Gujarat added 226 more cases and 19 deaths to its tally. The western-state now has 3,774 cases with 181 deaths.
The National Capital reported 206 fresh cases surfaced, taking the tally to 3,314 and making it third worst-infected. With no fresh death, fatalities remained unchanged at 54.
The Ministry of Home Affairs through a latest order allowed stranded migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students to move with conditions during ongoing lockdown.
As per the order, all states have been asked to designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded people.
All such people will be medically screened at source and destination and kept in home or institutional quarantine on arrival while buses will be used to ferry them, the order added.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced extension of curfew till May 17, while allowing limited lifting of the lockdown in the non-containment and non-red zones.