The ongoing Kumbh Mela has reported large number of devotees and saints testing positive with COVID-19 virus.
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday (April 17) said that people returning to state after attending the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar will have to undergo an RT-PCR test before they are allowed to enter their respective cities and villages
While speaking to reporters at Jamnagar, Rupani said, “Collectors of all districts in Gujarat have been directed to keep a watch on the Kumbh Mela returnees and enforce a nakabandi' (security checking) to prevent their entry in their hometowns without undergoing an RT-PCR test.”
This comes after the Madhya Pradesh government on Saturday (April 17) directed all district collectors to quarantine people returning from Kumbh Mela. The returnees will have to inform the district collector about their arrival.
The ongoing Kumbh, which is scheduled to conclude on April 30 has been immensely criticised for presence of devotees in large numbers and flouting of COVID-19 rules especially at a time when the country is reeling under the pressure of the second wave of the virus. The religious event has reported large number of devotees and saints testing positive with the virus.
Meanwhile, Swami Avdheshanand, Chief of Juna Akhada, on Saturday (April 17) called off Kumbh celebrations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier spoken to him, requesting that Kumbh Mela should now only be symbolic.
“The Kumbh Mela is now concluded for Juna Akhara,” Swami Avdheshanand Giri said while urging people to to not come to the Kumbh mela for bathing in large numbers due to the COVID-19 situation and to follow the rules. Saving one’s and other’s lives is sacred, he said.
“I prayed that two “shahi snan” have taken place and Kumbh (participation) should now be kept symbolic. This will boost the fight against this crisis,” PM tweeted in Hindi.
India on Saturday (April 17) reported 2,34,692 fresh infections, highest-ever daily hike taking the caseload to 1.45 crore while 1,341 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
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 "Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh issue guidelines for Kumbh returnees - Check details")
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