Mick Jagger and Will Smith will be among dozens of international and Indian celebrities performing from their homes in a four-hour concert to raise funds for the battle against coronavirus in India, where the number of cases is surging.

The countrys cricket captain Virat Kohli, actors Priyanka Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan are some of the top domestic names billed to perform or read messages during the event on Sunday.

The performances will be livestreamed by Facebook and will pay tribute to workers fighting the pandemic.

Organised by the Bollywood directors Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar, the event is intended to raise millions of dollars for more than 100 groups providing food and other essential services during the crisis.

Concert organisers said the money was needed for those who have no work and no home and do not know where their next meal is coming from.

Indias 1.3 billion people have been in lockdown since 25 March. Restrictions have recently been eased, but they are expected to last until at least 17 May.

The shutdown has stranded millions of migrant workers in cities with little food or money. Special trains were organised on Saturday to help thousands of labourers finally return home.

India has so far reported 37,335 coronavirus cases and 1,218 deaths. More than 2,000 new infections were recorded in the last 24 hours. Experts fear a lack of testing and poor reporting procedures mean the death toll is much higher.

The government has announced a series of special activities to rally support for frontline workers. The Indian air force is to stage a flypast on Sunday and military helicopters will shower petals on hospitals caring for coronavirus patients. Warships will also put on a special display.

Other participants at the concert, called I For India, are reported to include Bryan Adams, Mindy Kaling, Jack Black and the Indian stars AR Rahman and Akshay Kumar.

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Mick Jagger and Will Smith to perform in India Covid-19 concert - The Guardian