By Zaffar Iqbal

Leh, Jun 19 (IANS): Life has come to a standstill in Ladakh after the Coronavirus pandemic broke out. Coupled with it, now a stand off between the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA at the LAC has all but sounded a death knell for tourism in the Himalayan valley ahead of a long winter.

Before the lockdown was enforced in March the main tourist hub in Leh used to bustle with scores of foreign and domestic tourists out on shopping spree. But in the peak season, the market studded with shops lies empty. There is no business there are no customers. This place wears a deserted look.

Dorji, who runs Himalaya Adventure store says business is down by 90 per cent.

"The main reason is coronavirus, but the evolving situation on the Line of Actual Control has also started impacting," said Dorji.

He says every year there is some incident of Chinese transgressions into the Indian side, but this year it has escalated a lot.

Tourism is the backbone of Ladakh's economy. Most people in Leh are dependent on tourism for livelihood.

Tsering Sandup Deputy Chairman Ladakh Autonomous Hill Dev Council said last year 2.8 lakh tourists came to Ladakh, but this year before the coronavirus induced lockdown was enforced just a few thousands tourists arrived.

"Tourism has come to a zero this year," he said.

The impact is visible on the hotels and travel agencies as well. Some hotels are shut some have scaled down operations. Those open are finding customers hard to come by.

"It is one of the toughest times that we are dealing with. Tourism never dried up so alarmingly from Ladakh," a hotel owner said.

But while life has come to a standstill in the town, there is some activity at an open market in Leh. The vendors say they open the market just for three days in a week but customers are hard to find.

"It seems that 2020 is one year that has come with all the problems," said Stenzin one of the street vendors said.