Corona threat: Chairman of GTA to hold meeting today on fate of tourism in Hills

Darjeeling: The Chairman of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) will chair a meeting in Darjeeling on Wednesday. The meeting will discuss the fate of tourism in the GTA area in the wake of the ongoing Coronavirus threat.

With the state of Sikkim along with the neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan shutting their doors on tourists, there is a rush of tourists including foreign tourists to Darjeeling. With the government and the Health department advising social distancing to check the menace, the tourist onrush has given rise to fears of a viral outbreak in the Hills.

Local residents have vehemently opposed this and have demanded that the authorities do the needful to stop tourists till the situation normalises. Given the meagre health resources available in the Hills, the townspeople have ventilated their apprehensions through social media.

"Please stop tourists from entering Darjeeling just as Sikkim has done! Before it is too late!" appealed Jamling Tenzing, famous mountaineer in a social media post. He is the son of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa.

E-petitions are also been signed on social media with the appeal of stopping tourists from visiting the Hills until the situation normalises. Many homestays have voluntarily shut their gates for keeping the welfare of the community above commercial gains.

"Nothing is more important than preserving the health of our people. I will be meeting all the stakeholders from the tourism industry from the Hills on March 18, following which decisions will be taken whether or not to continue to allow tourists to visit and also officially stop large gatherings," stated Anit Thapa, Chairman GTA.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at the Durbar Hall, Lal Kothi, GTA at 2 pm on Wednesday. The meeting will be attended by the district administration, police, Health officials along with hotel owners associations, homestay associations and transport associations.

Meanwhile, three suspected cases with Corona like symptoms have been admitted at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.

"Three patients are admitted including two males and a female. One of the males and the female have a travel history of visiting affected countries.

They are under observation. Their swab samples have been sent to NICED, Kolkata" Dr Kaushik Samajdar, Super, NBMCH.