The government has roped in its armed forces to tackle soaring Covid-19 cases across the country. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will review the Covid situation on Tuesday afternoon with all the service chiefs - Chief of Defence Staff, all Secretaries, Defence Research and Development Organisation Chairman and Director General Armed Forces Medical Services. Singh had on Monday urged the forces to be on war footing in fight against Covid, providing all medical help to the affected people.

He also directed the army to open up medical facilities for local people and directed that forces top commanders to get in touch with chief ministers of the states. The states unable to control the Covid-19 situation were looking upon the Central government for help. A senior Defence Ministry official said that the defence minister spoke to the Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane and asked him to instruct commanders in state capitals to reach out to chief ministers and provide all possible assistance. The defence secretary Ajay Kumar was also part of the discussions on Monday evening.