Bhaktapur festival put off over coronavirus fears

BHAKTAPUR, March 6: Bhaktapur Municipality has postponed ‘Bhaktapur Festival 2020’ owing to threats of coronavirus outbreak.

Bhaktapur Mayor Sunil Prajapati informed that they have decided to postpone the festival for now.

The five-day festival was scheduled to be held on coming 17-21 March.

The global epidemic — which has infected nearly 100,000 people across 85 countries and killed 3,370, mostly in China – has affected several events worldwide and in Nepal.

Nepal has only confirmed one case of coronavirus infection.

As a precautionary measure, the Everest Premier League scheduled for March 14-28 was also postponed until further notice due to coronavirus fears.

The Nepal’s biggest T20 cricket event was set to feature the international cricket stars like Chris Gayle, Upul Tharanga, Dwayne Smith, Corey Anderson, Mohammad Shahzad, Paul Stirling, Kevin O’Brien.

The National Sports Council has also advised the sporting bodies to put off all kinds of sports activities.