International Women’s Day celebrations here and the Kaziranga Utsav in Assam have been postponed on Saturday because of the coronavirus threat, which prompted chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to hold a review meeting in the evening.

“The programme for celebration of International Women’s Day at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra on Sunday has been postponed till further orders,” said a statement issued by the social welfare department on Saturday evening. However, no reason was cited.

When contacted, social welfare department minister Pramila Rani Brahma told The Telegraph that the decision was taken after receiving an advisory from the Centre not to organise mass gatherings where chances of getting infected are more.

“Experts across the world have advised that mass gatherings be reduced to avoid the spread of coronavirus disease. It is advised that mass gatherings may be avoided,” the memo said.

The organising committee of Kaziranga Festival 2020 too has postponed the event sine die. The festival was scheduled to be held from March 12-15 at Kohora in Kaziranga National Park under the aegis of Bokakhat civil administration in association with several government departments with extended programmes.

The additional deputy commissioner and subdivisional officer (civil) in charge of Bokakhat subdivision and chief general secretary of the festival organising committee Vivek Shyam announced the postponement of the festival.

There was panic among local residents of Kohora as a US tourist who came to Kaziranga was found to be infected with coronavirus later in Bhutan. According to a source, 127 people of Assam reportedly came in contact of the tourist and they have all been quarantined.

The divisional forest officer of eastern Assam wildlife division, Ramesh Ch. Gogoi, said 43 foreign tourists are in Kaziranga (30 in Kohora and 13 in Bagari) on Saturday.

“The programme should be cancelled as the season in Kaziranga is over,” Swapan Nath, a resident of Kohora, said.

Following postponement of the two events and concern among the masses, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal held the review meeting here.

He appealed to people not to panic and urged them to maintain personal hygiene. He told people not to be apprehensive about seeing any foreigner and directed the police to do the needful for their security.

He also directed the health department to take steps for sensitising all government officials, from state headquarters to panchayat level. He also directed that training be imparted to government staff and private health institutions.

Tripura alert: In Agartala, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Saturday conducted an awareness programme on coronavirus at Agartala-Akhaura integrated check-post here.

The NDRF team, comprising a medical officer of the first battalion NDRF, Dr H. Dilip Singh, paramedics and NDRF rescuers, organised the awareness programme. The subjects which were covered were symptoms and complications, prevention, transmission of coronavirus and use of personal protective equipment, face mask, among others.

Debasis Nandi, manager Agartala-Akhaura integrated check-post BSF, Tripura forest department, custom staff, immigration staff, and Tripura health department personnel attended the programme.

Additional reporting by Tanmoy Chakraborty in Agartala