Kolkata's favourite hangout Indian Coffee House downs shutter till March 31

Kolkata: The authorities of Indian Coffee House at College Street have decided to keep the landmark café closed till March 31. The decision comes in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

Hundreds of people, particularly students of the colleges and universities in the vicinity visit the place every day and spend hours at the city's favourite "adda" zone, where eminent personalities including Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak and Sunil Gangopadhyay were regular visitors.

Manna Dey's Coffee Houser sei adda ta aaj r nei, one of the most iconic Bengali songs, was penned about the café. It is also a place where people from the world of art and culture gather almost every day and discussions on different issues go on for hours over a cup of "infusion", which is the most popular coffee available at the joint.

Entry to Kolkata Press Club has also been restricted only to its members and journalists till further notice. Most of the restaurants at China Town were also seen with downed shutters on Friday. The Bar Council of West Bengal will also remain closed till March 30. Advocates enrolled under the Bar Council, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have been informed not to participate in any judicial proceedings.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police has identified and called 35 persons at Lalbazar for allegedly spreading rumours about COVID-19. They were cautioned and informed that if found to be indulging in the same again, they would face legal consequences.

27 such persons have been called in the past two days at the Kolkata Police Headquarters and warned.