Tamil Nadu has joined the states who have extended the lockdown further with the government announcing that the curfew would continue till May 3rd. In a statement yesterday, the administration has said any decision on relaxing the conditions later would be taken after studying the ground realities. Meanwhile, 43 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed yesterday, taking the total to 1520 while 46 others were discharged. Two people including a senior neurosurgeon from Chennai died of the disease since Sunday evening.<br />''<br />''AIR correspondent reports, many political leaders in Tamil Nadu including the state Health Minister have expressed anguish that the mortal remains of a doctor who died of Covid-19 in Chennai on Sunday could not be laid to rest in a city cemetery due to alleged mob violence by locals. This is the second such incidence in the city that the body of a doctor had to be shifted to a different place due to opposition. Doctors have insisted that the fears of the disease spreading from the dead are clearly unfounded, lacking any evidence, adding that the standard operating procedures of the ICMR are being followed. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has suo motu filed a case against those responsible for the mob violence. The city police have so far booked twenty people involved in the attacks.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been providing healthy food packets to people stranded in various places because of the national lock down in many towns and cities.<br />''<br />''In Madurai, Tamil Nadu, where religious tourist footfall is usually very high, the IRCTC outlet has been preparing and distributing food packets from April 8th onwards.<br />''<br />''IRCTC officials said that till date more than 15000 packets have been distributed. They said that the scheme has generally been received well among the public.<br />''<br />