March 4: The Annapurna trekking route has seen no human mobility due to fear stemming from global epidemic of coronavirus.    
The Annapurna circuit trek, which starts with counter-clockwise from Lamjung district headquarters, Beshisahar, ends at Pokhara in Kaski after making a circle around Muktinath and Jomsom.    
There used to be a huge inflow of tourists in the trekking route during the season in past years. However, the trek in this season seems to be void. Surprisingly, there is no mobility of tourists trekking to Manang via Lamjung Besisahar, Khudibhulbhule, Bahundanda and Jagatchyamche.    
The tourism and hotel entrepreneurs here have been disappointed due to almost no arrival of tourists and trekkers.    
According to tourism entrepreneur Binod Gurung, last year the hotel rooms were fully occupied and they had to accommodate tourists under tents but this time almost all rooms are empty. Similar are the stories of other hotel entrepreneurs.    
Another hotel entrepreneur Mingmar Lama said tourists' arrival in the trekking route is declining day after day due to reasons including excessive snowfall and coronavirus epidemic. The trek route is seen with no tourists even during peak season, he added.    
"We are fearful of disease transmission rather than drop arrival of tourists," he said.    
Meanwhile, the Manang district administration office has called for locals to remain cautious of tourists and adopt measures to prevent the possible spreading of coronavirus. - RSS