Mumbai, March 17: In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the state government of Maharashtra is planning to temporarily stop services of local trains, buses and other public transportation. However, the state government is yet to take a final decision on this matter. Reports inform that Uddhav  Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, will take a crucial call on suspending Mumbai's lifeline, the local train services as a precautionary measure. Coronavirus Scare: Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani, Deccan, Nandigram Express Among List of 23 Trains Cancelled by Central Railway.

The Central Railway and the Western Railway on Tuesday informed that all its suburban services are running as per schedule. "Commuters are informed that WR suburban services are running as per schedule", the tweet by the Western Railway read. 

Apart from local trains in Mumbai, the decision may also include the shutting down of Mumbai Metro Rail, Monorail and other public modes of transport. If the decision of shutting down of public transport comes into effect, it has the potential to virtually paralyse the country's commercial capital. Coronavirus Live Map: Track Spread of COVID-19 Across The Globe.

Here's the tweet by Central and Western Railway:

Maharashtra currently has 39 COVID-19 positive cases, making it the highest in the country. On Tuesday, a 63-year-old COVID-19 patient who was under treatment at the Kasturba Hospital, died, making him the first such victim in Maharashtra and India's third reported death due to coronavirus. According to reports, the Mumbai-based man had a travel history to Dubai. Reports inform that the wife of the deceased is also a COVID-19 positive patient under treatment and her condition is described as 'stable'.

Here are the tweets:

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had said that the move is believed to act as one of the measures of 'social distancing' to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The matter is being discussed at the state cabinet meeting today as the government is firm that the coronavirus must not be allowed to spread from 'Phase II to Phase III' at any cost.

In Maharashtra, there are another 38 coronavirus positive patients admitted in hospitals across the state, besides around 600 in 'home quarantine' in Mumbai. In India, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the country mounted to 126 including foreign nationals, the Health Ministry said. As of  March 17, the total number of passengers screened at airport  is 13,19,363.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2020 02:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).