Ahmedabad:
The historic Sabarmati Ashram here will remain closed for visitors from March 19 till March 29 in view of the coronavirus threat, the trust managing the complex said on Wednesday.
The ashram, a former home of Mahatma Gandhi, receives a large number of visitors everyday. It is a historic centre linked to India’s independence movement.
“In order to control the spread of COVID-19, a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organisation and to ensure the safety of citizens, Gandhi Ashram will remain closed for visitors from 19th March 2020 to 29th March, 2020,” the Sabarmati Ashram Prevention and Memorial Trust said in a release.
“The trust sincerely apologises to the visitors for inconvenience caused by this decision taken in public interest,” the release stated.
On February 24, US President Donald Trump visited the ashram along with wife Melania and daughter Ivanka ahead of the “Namaste Trump” programme at the Motera cricket stadium.
They were accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The ashram, where the Father of the Nation resided between 1917 and 1930, is a major tourist attraction, both with domestic as well as foreign travellers.
In view of the coronavirus threat, the Congress party was forced to postpone its recreation of the famous Dandi Yatra on its 90th anniversary on March 12 in 1930.
The Gujarat government, as a precautionary measure, has closed down all tourist sites, including the Statue of Unity in Narmada district.
Besides, all schools, cinema halls and zoos have also been closed down till the end of this month.
Gujarat has not registered any positive case of the coronavirus so far.
