COVID-19: Uttarakhand bans holy dip in Ganga on Kartik Purnima; seals Haridwar border till Nov 30

A day ahead of Kartik Purnima, Uttarakhand Police on Sunday announced that all the boundaries of Haridwar have been completely sealed till November 30 to ensure that devotees do not enter the district to take the holy dip in Ganga amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

"Borders of Haridwar will remain sealed today and tomorrow as a measure to ensure that devotees do not enter the district to take the holy dip in Ganga which is not allowed on the occasion of Kartik Purnima," said Senior Superintendent of Police Senthil Abudai Krishnaraj S.

The development comes a few days after the district administration canceled the celebrations on the occasion of 'Kartik Purnima bath' (November 30) in view of the increasing cases of COVID-19.

Every year lakhs of people from different states of the country come here to take the holy dip in the Ganga river on the occasion of Kartik Purnima. However, this year, devotees coming from other states shall not be allowed to enter Haridwar to combat the COVID-19 spread.

Speaking to ANI, Senthil said, "Only those coming for urgent work shall be given permission to enter the district and those coming for rituals will be exempted."

At present, there are 4,876 active cases of coronavirus in the state.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Police on Saturday announced that they would monitor details of the movement of people from other states to Uttarakhand.

The entry will be allowed to the people coming from outside states, especially from Delhi, at the Ashkrodi, Kulhan, and Pass Gate border check posts of the state only after undergoing the Rapid Antigen Covid-19 test.

The development has come at a time when coronavirus cases in Uttarakhand's capital Dehradun are on the rise. "Strict instructions are given to the policemen posted on the border check posts for proper checking and keeping the full details of people coming from other states to Uttarakhand," said Arun Mohan Joshi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Dehradun.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand state capital Dehradun will observe a weekly lockdown of all market places from November 30, with the exception of shops selling essential items.

The Dehradun district administration had issued orders for closure of all market places in the district due to rising COVID-19 cases, the District Magistrate said on Saturday.