The Pangsau Pass market, located along the Indo-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district, was closed on Thursday over the spread of novel coronavirus in neighbouring China.

However, locals and traders hope the virus would be controlled soon and the market would reopen.

The Changlang district authorities closed down the market just a few days after opening on February 4 till March 22 to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

Traders from Nampong, along with those from Myanmar, sell goods at the border market, which opens on the 10th, 20th and 30th of every month.

“We bought clothes, cloves, shoes, noodles, knives, medicines, pain balms, herbs and shrubs. However, the administration has taken a good decision to close it down temporarily. We hope it will open once the virus is controlled,” said Jyoti, a resident of Nampong.

Noor Alam, another local, said: “However, it affects traders and businessmen.”

“All village heads and panchayat members of Nampong and nearby Tikhak, Rima and Putok areas have been asked to create awareness among locals and restrict movement to Myanmar for the time being. People’s health comes first,” said Nampong subdivisional officer Ibom Tao.

The spread of coronavirus has been affecting the economy of neighbouring Assam and other states as well, according to sources.

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,080km border with China, where the novel coronavirus has claimed over 2,000 lives. The Myanmar-China boundary spans 2,204km. China had 74,185 confirmed cases till Thursday.

The Arunachal Pradesh and Assam governments along with other northeastern states have set up round-the-clock control rooms to improve surveillance on suspected coronavirus cases.