Updated Apr 16, 2021 | 11:45 IST
Niranjani Akhar and Anand Akhara have decided to opt out of Kumbh Mela 2021 in Haridwar due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation in Uttarakhand. Kumbh Mela in Haridwar | Photo Credit: AP
Dehradun: In one more signal that Kumbh Mela 2021 in Haridwar is turning out to be ‘super spreader’, 30 sadhus who attended the mega religious event, have tested positive for COVID-19.
Chief Medical Officer Dr SK Jha confirmed that 30 sadhus have tested positive for coronavirus so far in Haridwar. The CMO said that health professionals are visiting the akharas and conducting RT-PCR tests on sadhus.
Jha said that the serious coronavirus patients are being sent to AIIMS in Rishikesh and COVID positive people who are from Haridwar have been sent for home quarantine.
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Secretary of the Niranjani Akhada Mahant Ravindra Puri said that “most of the saints and their followers” in the camps at Haridwar have Covid-19 like symptoms due to which saints of the akhada have decided to end the mela from April 17.
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India may be staring at a public health crisis of frightening proportions. It declared victory to the world after the first wave passed, and let its guard – and mask – down. The numbers are leaping from day to day at a speed that far outstrips last year’s. The huge election rallies, especially in Bengal, and the Maha Kumbh are almost certain to accelerate the spread of the infection. While it may be more localised in poll-bound states – that, at least, is the hope – there’s a deepening fear among public health officials that the dispersal of the millions who have congregated in Haridwar might act as a national super-spreader. The Prime Minister is to be commended for emphasising – during his recent interaction with chie
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Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat will convene a high-level meeting today regarding Kumbh, Remdisivir
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has defended Haridwar Kumbh Mela amid demands to cancel the mega event in view of the Covid pandemic. Rawat has convened a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the issue. The issue of scarcity of Remdisivir in the state is also expected to be discussed in the high-level meeting.
Haridwar reported 594 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, thus, taking the number of active cases to 2,812. Haridwar s coronavirus count was 408 on Monday.
Rawat had earlier defended the Kumbh Mela and asked people to not compare it with the Nizamuddin Markaz. There should be no comparison between Kumbh and Markaz. The Markaz was held in a closed space, in a Kothi-like structure whereas the Kumbh is being held in the open on the sprawling ghats of the Ganga, he said.Â
Amid worsening Covid-19 situation in the country, the Niranjani Akhada has announced to curtail the ongoing Kumbh Mela at Haridwar. The religious congregation has emerged as a Covid-19 hotspot where millions are flocking to participate in the event.Â
The Niranjani Akhada on Thursday said that the Kumbh Mela will end on Saturday (April 17), almost two weeks before from the schedule. The event kicked-off on April 1 and was slated for culmination on April 30.
Notably, after several seers tested positive for Covid-19 and many showing symptoms, Ravindra Puri, secretary, Niranjani Akhada, said that the event will conclude on Saturday. After reviewing the current Covid-19 situation in our camps where several seers and devotees have tested positive, the Akhara has decided to culminate Kumbh Mela on April 17.