Covid-19 protocol tossed away at Haridwar Kumbh Mela as 31 lakh throng for holy dip | Ground report
People participating in the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar were seen openly flouting Covid-19 protocol. The state administration said it's trying its best, but there are limitations in handling such large gatherings, and enforcing social distancing is very challenging.
Ashutosh Mishra HaridwarApril 13, 2021UPDATED: April 13, 2021 19:08 IST
Sadhus during the second Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) at Har Ki Pauri, during the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, on Monday. (Photo: PTI)
No masks, no social distancing and Covid-19 protocol tossed away. This was the scene at the Haridwar Kumbh Mela on Monday as nearly 31 lakh people
thronged to the Kumbh Mela for a holy dip in river Ganga at Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri.
Of course, the Uttarakhand government made tall claims that it would ensure the best arrangements are in place to manage the crowds. But
ground reality in Haridwar on Monday was quite different.
Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar said they had expected the crowd to be even bigger.
"Had it been an ordinary year, the gathering would have seen more than 50-60 lakh people. It appears that people were apprehensive and aware of the Covid-19 situation. This is perhaps why the
footfall is significantly low this year," the DGP said.
The Haridwar Kumbh Mela
It is for the first time in the history of the grand religious congregation, held on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar once in 12 years, that its duration
has been curtailed to just one month due to the pandemic.
In normal circumstances, Kumbh is held for nearly four months. Its last edition was held in Haridwar from January 14 to April 28 in 2010. Between April 1 and 30, there will be three major bathing dates (shahi snan or royal baths) on April 12, 14 and 27.
Devotees gather at Har Ki Pauri ghat to offer prayers during Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, on Monday. (Photo: PTI)
Besides the shahi snan dates when people descend in droves on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar for a holy bath, a heavy turnout of devotees is also expected on the occasion of Chaitra Pratipada on April 14 and Ram Navami on April 21.
The notified Kumbh Kshetra (Kumbh area) covers various places in Haridwar, Dehradun and Tehri districts.
Limitations in handling such large crowds: Haridwar DM
As per official data, nearly 31 lakh people offered prayers and took a dip in the Ganga between Sunday midnight and Monday 3 pm.
Speaking to India Today TV, the Haridwar district administration said while it has made the best efforts to control the situation, there are limitations when handling such large crowds.
Haridwar District Magistrate (DM) and officer in-charge of the Kumbh Mela, Deepak Rawat said, "We are appealing to the people and making them aware about Covid-19 safety protocol. We are asking people to wear masks but ensuring social distancing in this very small area (where the Kumbh Mela is being held) is going to be a really challenging task."
Why is Kumbh Mela a matter of concern?
The Haridwar Kumbh Mela is being held at a time when India is battered by the second wave of Covid-19. For more than a week now, the country has been reporting more than 1 lakh cases every day. The highest was on Monday when India reported over 1.68 lakh cases.
Several states have imposed night curfews and other restrictions to break the chain of transmission. There are reports of states facing shortage of Covid-19 vaccines and hospital beds for Covid-19 patients.
Regarding the ongoing Kumbh Mela, experts have warned that holding such a large gathering in the midst of a raging pandemic can prove to be catastrophic and severely impede India's fight against the deadly viral disease that has claimed millions of lives globally.
What is also of concern is that people attending the Kumbh Mela come from different parts of the country. Experts fear non-observance of Covid-19 protocol may result in the infection spreading to several states.
Covid-19 protocol for Kumbh Mela
As per the SOP issued for management of the Kumbh Mela and an order of the Uttarakhand High Court, all people attending the congregation must show a Covid-19 negative RT-PCR report. This report cannot be older than 72 hours.
The administration has set up several Covid-19 testing desks at various checkpoints of the Kumbh Mela area. All entry points of Uttarakhand have been barricaded to check Covid-19 negative RT-PCR reports from visitors. Those without a report are being asked to mandatorily take a test.
"Symptomatic cases or those who are found to be positive in the random testing are being returned from the border itself," said SDM Shailendra Negi, who was in-charge of the Khanpur border.
Rising Covid-19 cases in Haridwar
As per the report issued by Haridwar's Chief Medical Officer, the district reported 300 Covid-19 cases on Sunday. A day later, Haridwar reported 349 positive cases.
The district has seen a surge in cases since April 1, when the Kumbh Mela began. On April 1, Haridwar reported less than 200 cases.
The district administration has planned to conduct about 50,000 random Covid-19 tests to check the spread of the disease.
"The random testing will be increased further as and when required," DM Deepak Rawat said.
Flouting Covid-19 norms
While reporting about the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, we came across several people who were not wearing mask and were defying other Covid-19 protocol. One such person was Govind Makhija who has come from Rajasthan.
Asked why he wasn't wearing a mask, Govind Makhija said, "When we left from Rajasthan, I took a Covid-19 RT-PCR test and the report was negative. My family members were also tested for Covid-19 at Haridwar railway station and they too tested negative. If all people are being tested and their negative certificates are being checked, how can people spread virus in Haridwar?"
Apart from the commoners, several sadhus and seers were also seen flouting Covid-19 protocol at the Kumbh Mela. Many of them have also tested positive for the disease, including the chief priest of the Niranjani Akhada and head of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Mahant Narendra Giri.
He is currently in isolation in Haridwar at his ashram.
According to the SOP, a positive patient should stay away from meeting anyone and live in quarantine. However, on Sunday, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav met Mahant Narendra Giri in Haridwar.
The police later asked Mahant Narendra Giri not to take part in the Shobhayatra on the day of the Shahi Snan in Haridwar.
Meanwhile, speaking to India Today TV about the Kumbh Mela and the pandemic, Swami Avdheshanand from the Juna Akhada said, "The Covid-19 crisis is unprecedented and hence we always appeal to our followers and people to follow all rules put in place by the government to fight this pandemic by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing."
However, while speaking to India Today TV, Swami Avdheshanand himself was not wearing a mask.
His said he "dropped it while bathing in Ganga by mistake".
People participating in the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar were seen openly flouting Covid-19 protocol. The state administration said it's trying its best, but there are limitations in handling such large gatherings, and enforcing social distancing is very challenging.
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