Administrative lapse in Mahakumbh could turn Haridwar into Covid epicentre

Corona cases are increasing rapidly in Uttarkhand's Haridwar where the Mahakumbh is being held. Many saints, policemen and devotees have already tested positive for Covid19. With a sea of crowd thronging the holy site, a lapse by the administration could turn Haridwar into a Covid epicentre.

Haridwar (Uttarakhand): The 2021 Maha Kumbh Mela being held in the holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand, has turned worrisome for the administration with several saints, police personnel and devotees testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad President Mahant Narendra Giri, SP President Akhilesh Yadav have already diagnosed positive for the deadly virus.

According to Pavan Gupta a private doctor deployed at the Juna Akhada camp in Haridwar, 900 to 1500 patients are consulting him on a daily basis. Most of them are Naga monks and officials of the Sadhu Samaj, who have complained of persistent cough, cold and fever.

Coronavirus continues to spread in spite of the government's tough measures. The number of positive cases reported during the 'Shahi Snan' held on April 12 was 409. Most of those who tested positive were saints of the Juna Akhada.

When the ETV Bharat team reached the Juna Akhada to take a stock of the situation, it was learnt that the health department team had been constantly monitoring the saints. Two to three ambulances were also placed at the Akhadas of the Sadhu Samaj, to rush those who fall critically ill. As of Tuesday, around twelve saints had contracted the virus.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat says that the Kumbh Mela is being held on a ghat spread over a radius of more than 10 kilometres and that the administration is making every effort to ensure that the event concludes on a grand note.

However, due to the strict measures and covid guidelines being imposed by the administration, very few devotees are reaching Haridwar Mahakumbh this time.