100 PRIESTS COVID POSITIVE, 2 DIE AFTER EVENT

The Kerala police have started investigating a religious retreat conducted in hill station Munnar in Idukki district last month that flouted pandemic norms, and which seems to have resulted in the death of two priests last week from Covid-19 with around a 100 more participants testing positive .

Among the infected are Church of South India (CSI) South Kerala Bishop Father Dharmaraj Rasalam. Two priests who attended the retreat, Father Bijumon (52) and Rev Shine B Raj (43) died last week after contracting Covid-19. CSI officials declined comment but reformist groups in the church confirmed it.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has termed the incident “unfortunate” and said he has directed district authorities to conduction an investigation. “When situation is grave such an event should not have taken place.”

The retreat was held between April 13-17, a period when Kerala was seeing an average cases with the test positivity rate of 20 per cent. It was also held at a time when Covid-19 restrictions were in place. The CSI retreat is the latest religious event to hit the headlines for recklessness during the pandemic. Last year, at the beginning of the first wave, a congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi caused a spike in cases. Last month’s massive congregation for the Kumbh Mela has contributed to an increase in cases in many northern and central Indian states .

Reports in local media claim that more than 40 priests are undergoing treatment at the CSI Medical College Hospital in Karakonam. When contacted hospital authorities declined comment. Hectic efforts are on to cover up the incident.

“Permission was not sought from district authorities for the event. We are inquiring into the incident . We will take strict action against the resort and organisers of the event,” said Idukki district collector H Dinesh.