The Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) has decided to suspend all tourism activities in Darjeeling till 31 July, in view of the huge increase in the number of Corona positive cases in West Bengal and adjoining hill stations. The decision was taken a week after the Darjeeling hills were reopened to tourists. The GTA has urged people from other hill stations, including Kalimpong, not to visit Siliguri without any significant reason in view of the ever increasing cases of corona infection.
GTA President Anit Thapa said, ‘I am very concerned about the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country. The state government has announced the implementation of the lockdown across the state from 9 July. As you all know, the number of cases of infection in hill areas is much less than in Siliguri, but this does not mean that we are safe from viruses. ‘ He further said that the administration has banned the arrival of tourists in GTA areas from Thursday to 31 July.
Anit Thapa told that strict screening of people will be done in Simulberi and Chitre areas. In addition to Darjeeling, flower lockdown has been imposed for the next seven days in nine community wards in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri. Siliguri Fight Corona Committee Joint Coordinator Animesh Bose said that it has been decided to impose lockdown on the request of the people in the ward where cases of infection with the virus were coming. There are 84 Containment Zones in Darjeeling till now. According to the Health Department of West Bengal, so far 234 corona positive cases have been reported in Darjeeling and ten people have died there.
