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Tag: Mahakumbh 2021

  • Mahakumbh 2021 begins in Haridwar with Covid guidelines

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Mahakumbh 2021 officially started on Thursday. The religious congregation, which occurs once every 12 years, will conclude on April 30. 

    Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat, while interacting with media through video conferencing, said, “Every arrangement is in place to make the Mahakumbh as grand as possible as well as safe for pilgrims. The infrastructure, crowd management, health, and other issues were kept in mind while planning for the event.”

    The government has spent Rs 700 crore for the facilities, officials said.

    The mela area has 11,700 toilets, 6,674 urinals, 157.65 kilometres of roads, a 159-bed hospital with requisite medical staff and various other arrangements including a surveillance system.

    In all, 38 temporary hospitals, 200 doctors and 1,500 paramedical staff have also been on the job in the mela area, said officials. 

    The Centre on Thursday allocated an additional amount of Rs 325 crore for the event to cover the shortcomings in terms of infrastructure and other things. 

    More than 12,000 police and 400 personnel of the central forces have been already deployed, the numbers of which will be increased before April 14 given the biggest Shahi Snan (Royal Bath).

    On April 14, which is also the day of the Baisakhi festival, the estimates suggest that over 1 crore devotees may visit Haridwar. Officials also added that over 2 crore devotees can visit Haridwar between April 11-14. 

    ALSO READ | COVID-19: Uttarakhand makes RT-PCR test report mandatory for people arriving from 12 states

    State DGP Ashok Kumar said: “We have made all necessary arrangements for successful and safe Mahakumbh. I will be camping at the Mela area from April 11-14.”

    During the Mahakumbh, the first royal bath events will be on April 12 (Somwati Amavasya), April 14 (Baisakhi Kumbh snan) and April 27 (Chaitra Purnima). 

    The new CM has made the Mahakumbh his priority. His first order as the CM was to shower flowers on the occasion of Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) on Mahashivratri on March 11. 

    Total 13 Akhadas are participating in Mahakumbh. Over 12 crore pilgrims are expected to participate in the event which spans over months. More than 100 drones will be monitoring the congregation round the clock along with 1,500 CCTVs. 

    The main attraction of the event will be a helicopter service which will offer ariel view of the religious event at a cost of Rs 4,130. The service is especially for the event from April 1-30. 

    The mela area includes places in Haridwar, Dehradun as well as Tehri district of the hill state.

    The state government has also deployed 500 buses for pilgrims who want to travel to Haridwar from various parts of the country. 

    Earlier this week, in the wake of Mahakumbh the Uttarakhand made it mandatory to carry RT-PCR Covid test report for people travelling to Uttarakhand from the states with a high caseload.

    The advisory released on Tuesday evening which became effective from April 1 stated, “Persons travelling from the states namely; Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan by road, air and train to Uttarakhand are advised to carry negative RT-PCR test report (test done 72 hours prior to the time of arrival in Uttarakhand State).”

  • Mahakumbh 2021 from April 1-30, no special train services due to pandemic

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Mahakumbh 2021 will start on April 1 and conclude on April 30, 2021, said state government officials. 

    The officials also added no special trains will be run for the religious congregation given the coronavirus situation.

    Om Prakash, chief secretary said, “The Mahakumbh will start on April 1 and will conclude on April 30. There will be no special trains or buses without permission of Uttarakhand government.”

    The CS also told that the state has received 1.46 lakh Covid 19 vaccines, especially for the religious congregation. In the wake of Mahakumbh 2021, the government had requested 2 lakh more doses out of which the Centre granted approval for 1.4 lakh. 

    Keeping in mind the prevailing Covid-19 situation, the state government has planned to integrate CCTV cameras with artificial intelligence software to keep the headcount from exceeding from the prescribed limit.

    Devotees visiting the religious congregation will need to register on the website- www.haridwarkumbhmela2021.com along with all their details including date of birth, address and various other details. 

    The Mahakumbh is expected to have expenses of Rs 800 Crore which are being used to provide facilities to the devotees and saints visiting the mela. 

    Earlier this month, the state government wrote to all states requesting to conduct health check-ups of devotees who will participate in the Mahakumbh 2021 and urged not to run any special buses for the religious congregation. 

    Dates of first holy bath hav been announced already. The first bath will be taken on March 11, 2021 (Mahashivratri), the second on April 12 (Somwati Amavasya), the third on April 14 (Baisakhi Kumbh snan) and the fourth on April 27 (Chaitra Purnima). 

    Other important baths will take place on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on January 14, February 11 (Mauni Amavasya), February 16 (Basant Panchami), February 27 (Magh Purnima), April 13 (Nav Samvatsar) and April 21 (Ram Navami). 

  • Uttarakhand to use artificial intelligence to put cap on Mahakumbh devotees

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government will integrate CCTV cameras with artificial intelligence software to keep the headcount from exceeding the prescribed limit amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

    Sanjay Gunjyal, inspector-general, Mahakumbh 2021 said, “At any given time not more than 1.09 lakh people will be allowed bath at 107 Haridwar ghats. The systems will alert us in case the number of people exceeds the prescribed limit”.

    Devotees visiting the religious congregation will need to register on the website- www.haridwarkumbhmela2021.com along with all their details including date of birth, address and various other details. 

    The Mahakumbh is likely to be organised at the expense of Rs 800 crore which is being used to provide facilities to the devotees and saints visiting the mela. 

    Earlier this month, the state government wrote to all states requesting to conduct health check-ups of devotees who will participate in the Mahakumbh 2021 and urged not to run any special buses for the religious congregation. 

    The CS also told that the state government will soon be releasing the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Haridwar Maha Kumbh, scheduled to commence on February 27. 

    The state government has also requested the railways to not run any special trains for Kumbh so that the number of visitors to the two-month-long event is limited. 

    According to the SOP released by the central government, pilgrims must have a Covid-19 RT-PCR negative test report (test done 72 hours prior to the date of visit) and must register themselves with the state government before visiting the religious congregation starting on February 27. 

    The SOPs also advocates ‘appropriate Covid-19 behaviour’ like social distancing, wearing of masks, and installing Aarogya Setu App mandatorily.

    Listing various Covid appropriate behaviours by the pilgrims including maintaining social distancing of atleast 6-feet the SOP said, “The Government of Uttarakhand shall ensure that the Healthcare workers and the other frontline workers engaged during Kumbh Mela medical and public health operations are vaccinated on priority in the ongoing vaccination of this group. Only vaccinated Healthcare and other frontline workers be deputed for Kumbh Mela duties”.

    Suggesting that the Kumbh Mela authorities ‘may consider’ curtailing the total duration of the Kumbh Mela, the SOP listed 15 preventive measures to check the spread of the Covid during the religious congregation.

    Saints, business groups and other stakeholders have raised their concerns that such strict norms are bound to discourage pilgrims and devotees to travel Haridwar for Mahakumbh 2021. 

  • Mahakumbh: Congress terms Uttarakhand CM’s ‘Wuhan or a Markaz’ remark irresponsible

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: After Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that no risk which could possibly turn Haridwar Mahakumbh into ‘Wuhan or a Markaz’ should be taken, opposition Indian National Congress has slammed him terming the remark irresponsible. The opposition party claimed it to be an attempt to deflect attention from unpreparedness for Mahakumbh 2021. 

    Suryakant Dhasmana, vice-president of Uttarakhand Congress unit said, “The CM said Markaz targeting Tablighi jamaat while it has nothing to do with Mahakumbh. The pandemic was not spread by any one community. Picking a particular name and religion is not right in any sense. This statement seems more to cover up the failure to prepare for the grand religious congregation.”

    The INC leader also added that the statement by the CM is highly irresponsible. 

    ALSO READ | Planning to attend Mahakumbh? Uttarakhand govt releases SOP, here is everything pilgrims should know

    Earlier, on Wednesday, the CM while leaving for his Almora tour from Dehradun had said that no risk should be taken that turns the Haridwar Mahakumbh into a ‘Wuhan or Markaz’.  He had also added that the strict SOPs are to keep devotees and pilgrims safe and to prevent loss of lives.

    Over 1600 people have died in Uttarakhand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Saints, business groups and other stakeholders have raised their concerns that such strict norms are bound to discourage pilgrims and devotees to travel Haridwar for Mahakumbh 2021. 

    According to the SOP, pilgrims must have a Covid-19 RT-PCR negative test report (test done 72 hours prior to the date of visit) and must register themselves with the state government before visiting the religious congregation starting on February 27. 

    The SOPs also advocate ‘appropriate Covid-19 behaviour’ like social distancing, wearing of masks, and installing Aarogya Setu App mandatorily.

  • Strict COVID-19 guidelines will deter pilgrims from attending Mahakumbh: Saints, Traders

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN:  With strict guidelines in place for Mahakumbh 2021, suspicions over the success of ‘Grand’ religious event has started to pop up.

    Saints, business groups and other stakeholders have raised their concerns over the strict norms, which they claim could discourage pilgrims and devotees from travelling to Haridwar for Mahakumbh 2021. 

    “Such strict norms will clearly discourage devotees and pilgrims from all over the world from visiting Haridwar. The focus should be on better arrangements and not discouraging people from visiting the Mahakumbh,” said Mahesh Giri, a saint from an Akhara in Haridwar. 

    According to the SOP, pilgrims must have a COVID-19 RT-PCR negative test report (test done 72 hours prior to the date of visit) and must register themselves with the state government before visiting the religious congregation starting on February 27.  The SOPs also advocate ‘appropriate COVID-19 behaviour’ like social distancing, wearing of masks, and installing Aarogya Setu App mandatorily.  

    READ HERE | Planning to attend Mahakumbh? Uttarakhand govt releases SOP, here is everything pilgrims should know

    Kiran Kumar, a hotelier from Haridwar, commenting in the issue said, “The year 2020 engulfed entire tourism industry, forcing shutting down of many establishments and thousands losing jobs in Haridwar itself. We were thinking maybe Mahakumbh is a God sent opportunity for us but with such strict guidelines that idea is no longer feasible.”

    Suggesting that the Kumbh Mela authorities ‘may consider’ curtailing the total duration of the Kumbh Mela, the SOP listed 15 preventive measures to check the spread of the COVID during the religious congregation.

    “Kumbh Mela is not only a religious pilgrimage, but also perhaps the largest mass gathering at one place. It is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years and spans four locations. This year the Kumbh Mela would be held at Haridwar (Uttarakhand). The likely dates for this event are from 27th February 2021 to 30th April 2021. It is expected that about 1 million (10 lakh) people will attend the mela on a regular day and about 5 million (50 lakh) people will attend the mela on auspicious days,” said the SOP. 

    As religious tourism got hit badly in Uttarakhand due to COVID 19 epidemic, priests opted for odd jobs including factory workers earning between Rs 8000-12,000 per month.  Many priests from Haridwar including the ‘Ganga Temple’ at Har ki Pairi had opted to work in factories in evening shift to sustain themselves. 

    The epidemic had hit the religious institutions so hard that providing salaries and ration has become difficult for the temples in Haridwar.

    Apart from the chief priest of the temple total 8 ‘Vedpathi’ (Vedic scholars acting as priests) are employed who take care of temple duties shift wise.

    Morning shift which starts at 5, include the work of ceremonial bath and other rituals while the second shift starts at 2 pm ending at 11 pm.

    All the employed priests are allocated shifts rotation wise to handle devotees and other work of the temple which has been disrupted due to the epidemic.

     

  • Planning to attend Mahakumbh? Uttarakhand govt releases SOP, here is everything pilgrims should know

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Coronavirus test report for pilgrims visiting Mahakumbh 2021 has been made compulsory now. 

    Union ministry of health and family welfare on January 22 issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be followed during the religious fair, which is likely to start from February 27 and continue till April 30. 

    “The government of Uttarakhand would widely publicize, as also convey to all other state governments that only devotees with negative RT-PCR test report (test done 72 hours prior to the date of visit) shall be allowed to enter the Kumbh Mela site. The devotees may carry test reports either on their mobile phones or in hard copies,” stated the SOP.

    The SOPs also advocate ‘appropriate COVID-19 behaviour’ like social distancing, wearing of masks, and installing Aarogya Setu App mandatorily. 

    “The Government of Uttarakhand shall ensure that the Healthcare workers and the other frontline workers engaged during Kumbh Mela medical and public health operations are vaccinated on priority in the ongoing vaccination of this group. Only vaccinated Healthcare and other frontline workers be deputed for Kumbh Mela duties,” the SOP read.

    Suggesting that the Kumbh Mela authorities ”may consider” curtailing the total duration of the Kumbh Mela, the SOP listed 15 preventive measures to check the spread of the COVID during the religious congregation.

    The measures include:

    The appointment of a designated COVID-19 ‘Nodal Officer’ of appropriate seniority to be responsible for addressing the virus concerns within the Mela area who will be regularly coordinating with other stakeholders to ensure implementation of this Standard Operating Procedure at the operational level
    Identifying spatial boundaries of the Mela Area keeping in view the physical distancing requirements and prepare a detailed site plan which would facilitate compliance with thermal screening
    Physical distancing, sanitization, etc, setting up of multiple and separate entries and exits for devotees shall be ensured,
    setting up of help desks along with wide publication with adequate number of staff to ensure that people do not  wander around for want of direction
    Planning for the event should specifically factor this so that crowds are regulated and managed to ensure physical distance and frequent sanitization and many others
    mandatory contactless hand hygiene and multiple thermal screening provisions at the entrance
    Anyone found symptomatic during thermal screening should be politely refused entry and advised seeking immediate medical care
    The crowd density does not remain the same throughout the day and usually peaks around certain hours of the day and on auspicious days
    “Kumbh Mela is not only a religious pilgrimage, but also perhaps the largest mass gathering at one place. It is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years and spans four locations. This year the Kumbh Mela would be held at Haridwar (Uttarakhand). The likely dates for this event are from 27th February 2021 to 30th April 2021. It is expected that about 1 million (10 lakh) people will attend the mela on a regular day and about 5 million (50 lakh) people will attend the mela on auspicious days,” said the SOP. 

    The SOP also asserts on capacity building by the state government in terms of medical care. Stating that the existing bed capacity of government, referral and private hospitals– all combined is about 2,800 in Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun, the SOP says that this needs to be ‘substantially augmented’. 

    “The expected surge of the floating population and potential outbreak of  COVID or other epidemic-prone diseases will overwhelm the existing facilities. Mega-size temporary hospitals (1000 beds) that would augment bed capacity by at least 2,000 beds shall be established. State Government may contact DRDO for setting up such facilities,” said the SOP.

    The document also added that the state government shall also assess the requirement of PPE kits, consumables, human resources, oxygen and ventilators, and if required, shall procure and store well in advance.

  • Uttarakhand govt requests additional 2,00,000 vaccine citing Mahakumbh 2021

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand state government has requested additional 2,000,00 doses of Covid vaccine ahea of Mahakumbh 2021.

    Dr Abhishek Tripathi, state Covid control room chief said, “We have requested 2 lakh more doses of Covid 19 vaccine in the wake of Mahakumbh 2021. Millions of devotees will be visiting the mela and we need to ensure vaccination of front line staff, police and others who bear the responsibility of the Mahakumbh 2021.”

    The religious congregation is expected to catch pace next month with over all around 12 Crore devotees expected to attend the event.

    The state has already got over 200000 doses of vaccine which are more than enough to cover 88000 health workers from the state health department.

    The state has vaccinated total 6119 till Tuesday from state health department. Two doses of the vaccine are needed to inoculate a person.      

    Out of total vaccine doses Uttarakhand has,  Dehradun is allocated 22,500 doses followed by 15,000 in   Haridwar, 9,500 in Nainital and 8,500 in Udham Singh Nagar. Rest of the nine districts are allocated around 37,000 doses of the vaccine.    

    Meanwhile, Uttarakhand got 92500 Covishield vaccine of Covid 19 on Wednesday. Covishield is a vaccine by University of Oxford, AstraZeneca vaccine.    

    The state had already got 1.13 lakh vaccine doses earlier this month to start vaccination drive on January 16.