NEW DELHI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday announced setting up of an emergency relief fund to fight the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country.

"Keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected, a public charitable trust under the name of 'Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund' (PM CARES Fund)' has been set up," a statement issued by Prime Minister's Office said.

According to the statement, prime minister is the chairman of this trust and its members include defence minister, home minister and finance minister.

The PM's office said it has been receiving spontaneous and innumerable requests for making generous donations to support the government in the wake of this emergency.

The office has appealed people to generously donate to the fund.

So far 19 people have died because of novel coronavirus in India and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases Saturday evening rose to 918.