Increase in Coronavirus Cases Because of Kumbh Mela
Nearly a million people have flocked to the banks of the Ganges to participate in the months-long "Kumbh Mela".
The Kumbh Mela is currently going on in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. India is currently dealing with a huge spike in Coronavirus cases, there is a shortage of hospitals beds and vaccines but devotees continue to visit Haridwar in large numbers for the Mela. Nearly a million people have visited the Ganga River in Haridwar to offer prayers. On Monday, the day of the auspicious Shahi Snan (ritualistic bath), nearly a lakh had gathered for the holy dip in absolute violation of Covid protocols issued by the Union Health Ministry. Thousands of saffron-clad seers and ash-smeared Nagas were seen without masks, with no social distancing. Officials claimed that Covid is not a major concern since Uttarakhand has made negative RT-PCR tests mandatory for all. Tablighi Jamaat is a Muslim organisation that had gathered at the Markaz Nizamuddin mosque in Delhi last year. Muslim religious leaders from across the world had attended the programme which was for held for many days. Many cases of Coronavirus emerged because of the event and people began targetting the Muslim Community, blaming them for the outbreak. Now that India is experiencing a huge spike in cases because devotees breaking COVID norms at the Kumbh Mela. People are comparing it to Markaz.
During an interview, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said:
People’s health is a priority but matters of faith cannot be totally ignored. The devotees attending Kumbh are not from outside but our own people. When the Markaz was held there was not much awareness about Corona nor were there any guidelines. Now there is more awareness both about Covid and the guidelines related to it. Large Scale arrangements of masks and sanitisers have been made in the Mela area and hundreds of officials are working day and night to ensure that the Covid guidelines are followed by everyone.”
Despite the CM’s claims, Uttarakhand had logged 1,925 cases with 13 deaths in 24 hours on 13th April.
