News Analysis India

Tag: Kumbhmela

  • Uttarakhand releases COVID safety guidelines, prohibits gathering with more than 200 people amid rising cases

    By Express News Service
    Dehradun: Uttarakhand on Thursday evening released new Covid safety guidelines amid rising cases in the state.

    The guidelines released by Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand Om Prakash effective from April 16-30 prohibited public gathering of more than 200 people including in weddings across the state. 

    “The guidelines have been implemented with immediate effect to ensure safety of the people of the state amid rising number of Covid 19 cases. With aggressive testing, precautions and vaccination in place we will come of this pandemic soon,” said Om Prakash, the CS of the hill state. 

    All public transport, cinema halls, gymnasiums, restaurants will be functioning with 50% capacity while spas, swimming pools and coaching institutes have been shut down till April 30. 

    The night curfew will be in place from 10.30 pm to 5 am in the morning.

    The guidelines also include strict adherence to Covid safe behaviour including wearing of masks and using sanitizer frequently to avoid the viral infection. 

    Legal action will be taken against violators of the safety norms under Disaster Management Act 2005 and Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, stated the guidelines.

  • As Covid super spreader threat looms large, crowd falls by one-third on occasion of third Shahi Snan

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: With over 13.51 lakh pilgrims taking a holy bath in river Ganga on the occasion of the third Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) on Wednesday, the numbers were cut down to almost one-third of what congregated on April 12 in the second royal bath.

    However, Covid safety norms yet again went for a toss in the mega religious event.

    On April 12, over 35 pilgrims devotees gathered in Haridwar for bathing in the river Ganga. Coveted as the biggest and most auspicious of the Shahi Snans, it commenced around 5 am and concluded at 6 pm with estimated gatherings of more than 30 lakh people in Haridwar Mahakumbh 2021. 

    Sanjay Gunjyal, inspector general, Kumbh said, “All arrangements are in place to ensure smooth course of events without any hassle. We are making sure that no gathering, jam, or stampedes occur in the mela area and around it.”

    Fears of the mega event becoming a super spreader are being realized now, said experts. 

    Anoop Nautiyal from Social Development for Communities which has been analysing Covid data since March 2020 said, “The data shows that Haridwar remains one of the worst affected districts. Millions have visited the city across the country and still are. There is no doubt now that unfortunately, the event has contributed to the pandemic.”

    Haridwar remains one of the worst affected districts by the pandemic. 

    Similar to last Shahi Snan on April 12, no Covid appropriate behaviour was adhered to as thousands gathered on Ganga ghats to take a holy dip in the river.

    According to estimates, by 7 am, over 7 lakh people have taken a dip in ghats on the Ganges in the mela area. 

    Meanwhile, a statement of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat is going viral in which he says Covid does not affect much in open spaces comparing Markaz gathering of last year to ongoing Mahakumbh.

    “You cannot compare Markaz gatherings with Mahakumbh. The Markaz happened in a confined space while the Kumbh is being organized in open space,” the CM can be heard saying in a video. 

    Uttarakhand witnessed all-time high cases on Wednesday with 1,953 new cases of COVID-19. Out of these, maximum cases were reported with 796 cases followed by Haridwar (525) and Nainital with total 205 new Covid cases. 

    With 13 deaths on Wednesday, the recovery rate fell to 87.16% and sample positivity of 3.59%.