Retreat ceremony at Attari-Wagah border suspended amid coronavirus outbreak

In the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday informed that the popular daily retreat ceremony between India and Pakistan at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab will be conducted without spectators.

New Delhi:People will not be allowed to attend the popular daily retreat ceremony between India and Pakistan at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab in view of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the BSF said on Friday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) will continue performing the ceremonial duty of lowering the flag and other drills, a spokesperson of the border guarding force said.

"As per government guidelines, congregations are to be avoided. Hence visitors and spectators to the ceremony will not be entertained. The ceremony will be conducted without spectators," he said.

As many as 20,000 to 25,000 people take part in the ceremony on all days.

"The Health Department's advisory has been issued to the hotel industry representatives. If people come from affected regions, the hotel industry should inform the administration about them. The advisory has been put up in the Golden Temple complex as well for the tourists," he added.

About 34 confirmed cases of the infection have been reported so in the country. Two suspected cases of coronavirus were reported in Jammu on Saturday.

The virus has so far killed more than 3,200 people globally.

(With Inputs From PTI and ANI)

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