So far, five people have died in Darjeeling district where the number of Covid-19 cases stood at 296 till Sunday. Ward number 46 in Siliguri Municipal Corporation area, where the market is located, has the highest number of Covid-19 cases. On Monday, traders at Bidhan Market, the biggest general goods market in Siliguri with around 4,000 shops, decided to suspend business till June 28. Bhabotosh Saha, secretary of the Hong Kong Market traders’ body said, “The rise in Covid-19 cases has forced us to close the market for eight days. Khokan Saha, secretary of the traders’ union, said, “Another shutdown would mean another blow to business.” The market has around 1,000 shops.

Source: Hindustan Times June 23, 2020 03:13 UTC