The Birbhum district administration on Sunday ordered the closure of the famous rural market in Santiniketan, popularly known as Sonajhurir haat, till March 31 in order to prevent an outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
On Sunday, the local Ruppur gram panchayat announced over loudhailers the closure of the haat, a major tourist attraction, in the Sonajhuri area.
The Krishna Sayar Park, an amusement park in Burdwan, was also closed down on Sunday.
The Burdwan University asked its students to vacate hostels following a directive of the state government.
The Tarapith Temple committee was asked to conduct an awareness campaign for pilgrims.
Sources said the ruling dispensation was trying to convince the Matua Mahasangha — currently a divided house with a faction each of the Trinamul Congress and the BJP — to defer the Matua Mela at Thakurnagar next week.