Bengaluru, Mar 25 (IANS): Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision on 21-day lockdown across the country from Wednesday as need of the hour to fight coronavirus, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Tuesday said the state government would ensure its enforcement.

"Modi's clarion call to the people to stay at home for 21 days from March 24 to April 14 is to protect their life from the Coronavirus pandemic," said Yediyurappa in a statement after the Prime Minister's nationwide address in Hindi on the reasons for the unprecedented three-week lockdown.

Noting that Modi had no alternative to protect the people from the COVID-19 spread, Yediyurappa said the failure of many advanced nations in tackling the dreadful communicable diseases forced him to resort to such a long clampdown for minimizing its collateral damage.

"As Chief Minister, I assure the 6.5-crore Kannadigas, especially the poor to maintain the supply of all essential commodities for living and healthcare to contain the infection," asserted Yediyurappa.

Admitting that it would be a challenge for the people to remain indoors for such a long period, as the state has been under partial and complete lockdown since March 14 till March 31, the Chief Minister urged the people abide by Modi's diktat and not risk their life.

"I assure the people that, our government will take care of them during this hour of crisis," added Yediyurappa.

The Chief Minister also warned hoarders and black-marketers of stringent action if they exploited the situation and the people's desperation to create shortage of daily needs and fuel their prices.