Image used for representational purpose only
DEHRADUN: A 70-year-old seer attending the Maha Kumbh died of Covid-19 at a Covid care centre in Haridwar after he was allegedly turned away by both AIIMS Rishikesh and Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) for lack of ICU beds.
Talking to TOI, additional chief medical officer (ACMO) of Haridwar Dr HD Shakya said that the seer was initially admitted at a Covid Care Centre set up in the Bairagai akhada camp. He was then referred to Baba Barfani Covid Care Centre. After his condition turned critical, he had to be referred to a specialised centre.
The Uttarakhand high court has directed secretary (health and finance) Amit Negi to file a detailed report on all these issues by May 12 and be personally present at the next date of hearing before the court.
NAINITAL: The Uttarakhand high court (HC) on Tuesday asked the state government whether any SOPs had been prepared for the Char Dham Yatra, which is scheduled to start from May 14. The bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma, while hearing a bunch of PILs concerning the state’s handling of the pandemic, made an oral observation that the pilgrimage “cannot be allowed to turn into another Kumbh”. The government in its response said it will soon release Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the yatra.
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.
Times View
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