<p>An Indian school drop-out has built a motorbike with a one-metre gap between the rider and the passenger to drive home the importance of social distancing in the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>Partha Saha, 39, bought an old bike from a scrap dealer, removed the engine and cut the machine in two before affixing a rod slightly longer than a metre (3.2 feet) to connect the wheels.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-india-records-highest-deaths-in-a-single-day-toll-stands-at-886-tally-crosses-28000-827545.html#1">Follow live updates on coronavirus</a></p>.<p>"Now I can ride with my eight-year-old daughter while maintaining a safe distance," he told AFP from Agartala in the northeastern state of Tripura.</p>.<p>Like other countries, the Indian government has imposed a nationwide lockdown and urged citizens to practise social distancing to curb the spread of the virus.</p>.<p>As of Thursday, India had reported 33,050 cases of COVID-19, with 1,074 deaths.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>When the nation extended its lockdown this month until at least May 3, Saha realised the battle against the virus might not be over any time soon.</p>.<p>He used up his meagre savings to make the vehicle, which he plans to use to ferry his daughter to and from school once the restrictions are lifted.</p>.<p>"I didn't want her to take the school bus as it would be crowded," said Saha, who works in a TV repair shop.</p>.<p>His new bike runs on battery power and has a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph).</p>.<p>It takes three hours to charge the battery, which allows the bike to travel 80 kilometres (50 miles), Saha said.</p>.<p>"The cost of charging it once comes to about 10 rupees (13 cents)," he added.</p>.<p>The mechanic has already tried out his invention on the streets, leaving onlookers stunned at the design and drawing praise from Kumar Deb, Tripura's chief minister.</p>.<p>"Necessity is the mother of invention! I congratulate Partha Saha... for making a unique motorcycle to create awareness during COVID-19 pandemic," Deb tweeted.</p>
<p>An Indian school drop-out has built a motorbike with a one-metre gap between the rider and the passenger to drive home the importance of social distancing in the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>Partha Saha, 39, bought an old bike from a scrap dealer, removed the engine and cut the machine in two before affixing a rod slightly longer than a metre (3.2 feet) to connect the wheels.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-india-records-highest-deaths-in-a-single-day-toll-stands-at-886-tally-crosses-28000-827545.html#1">Follow live updates on coronavirus</a></p>.<p>"Now I can ride with my eight-year-old daughter while maintaining a safe distance," he told AFP from Agartala in the northeastern state of Tripura.</p>.<p>Like other countries, the Indian government has imposed a nationwide lockdown and urged citizens to practise social distancing to curb the spread of the virus.</p>.<p>As of Thursday, India had reported 33,050 cases of COVID-19, with 1,074 deaths.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>When the nation extended its lockdown this month until at least May 3, Saha realised the battle against the virus might not be over any time soon.</p>.<p>He used up his meagre savings to make the vehicle, which he plans to use to ferry his daughter to and from school once the restrictions are lifted.</p>.<p>"I didn't want her to take the school bus as it would be crowded," said Saha, who works in a TV repair shop.</p>.<p>His new bike runs on battery power and has a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph).</p>.<p>It takes three hours to charge the battery, which allows the bike to travel 80 kilometres (50 miles), Saha said.</p>.<p>"The cost of charging it once comes to about 10 rupees (13 cents)," he added.</p>.<p>The mechanic has already tried out his invention on the streets, leaving onlookers stunned at the design and drawing praise from Kumar Deb, Tripura's chief minister.</p>.<p>"Necessity is the mother of invention! I congratulate Partha Saha... for making a unique motorcycle to create awareness during COVID-19 pandemic," Deb tweeted.</p>