India suspended on Saturday movements of all types of passengers through the international border points with Pakistan from March 16 midnight in wake of the threat from the novel coronavirus pandemic, officials said.
TheUnion Home Ministry also announced that all types of passenger movement wouldbe suspended from March 15 midnight through the Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Nepal,Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar borders, barring a few specified bordercheckposts.
“Alltypes of passenger movements through all the immigration land check postslocated India-Bangladesh, India-Nepal, India-Bhutan and India-Myanmar borderswill be suspended with effect from 00:00 hours on March 15, except through afew posts, and at India-Pakistan border with effect from 00:00 hours on March16 until further orders,” according to a Home Ministry order.
Thedecisions have been taken in view of the COVID19 threat, an official said.
Therewill be intensified health inspections at the entry points, which will beallowed along the borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, accordingto the order.
Diplomatsand UN personnel having valid visas may be allowed through the Attari crossingpoint along the India-Pakistan border. However, they would be subjected tohealth screening and, if required, they may be subjected to quarantine, theorder stated.
The operation of existing India-Bangladesh cross-border passengers trains and buses will remain suspended till April 15, it added.