Wagah retreat ceremony suspended due to coronavirus: Businesses hit at Amritsar

Eateries and small traders here are feeling the pinch as the famous beating retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border has been suspended due to the coronavirus scare, stemming the flow of tourists to the area.

It has also hit the hotel and tourism industry in the holy city.

Each day, nearly 50,000 tourists used to visit the border, mainly to catch a glimpse of the beating retreat ceremony, which has been suspended till further orders.

Taxi operator Raman Sharma said before the ceremony was suspended, he used to get hundreds of bookings every day.

He used to provide vehicles -- ranging from small cars to sedans and multi-purpose and sports utility vehicles -- to tourists to travel to the international border.

"My business has been hit hard after the retreat ceremony was suspended recently," Sharma said on Thursday.

He said he had to pay salary to 20 drivers who worked for him, but things had become difficult for him now.

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Shivdullar Singh Dhillon said, "The retreat ceremony was stopped due to the increasing fear of coronavirus and the decision to suspend the event was taken keeping public health in view. The ban on public entry will continue till further orders."
Amandeep Singh, an autorickshaw driver, said, "More than one hundred autorickshaws used to ply on the Attari road. Most of the drivers have purchased new autorickshaws by taking loans, but with no tourists to ferry now, paying bank installments and earning livelihood have become difficult."