State reviews Covid norms for third shahi snan today
Govt faces a tough job after Covid protocols were flouted in 2nd royal bath; experts say at least ensure wearing of masks
DEHRADUN/HARIDWAR: A day after about three million people took dip in the Ganga in the second Shahi Snan of Haridwar Mahakumbh amid violations of Covid norms, the administration is bracing up for an uphill task of ensuring adherence to Covid safety protocols on the third royal bath on the occasion of Baisakhi on Wednesday.
The Mela administration says at least 2.5 million people are expected for the third Shahi Snan, claiming that all arrangements have been made to ensure its success.
During the second Shahi Snan on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya, very few people were seen wearing masks with almost no social distancing. Covid guidelines were mostly violated by akhadas who carried out religious processions from their camps till the Ganga ghat for the holy dip.
State director general of police Ashok Kumar, who has been camping in the Mela area to monitor the arrangements since Sunday, said, “On Monday during the second Shahi Snan, about 3.1 million people took the holy bath at Ganga ghats amid all our arrangements in place. We are expecting a crowd of at least 2.5 million on Wednesday for the third Shahi Snan, which will be the most significant day in the monthlong Mahakumbh.”
On the challenge to implement the Covid norms, Kumar said, “It has been a challenge to organise the Mahakumbh amid the pandemic, but our security personnel did well to ensure a peaceful and successful second Shahi Snan on Monday. It will be repeated on Wednesday with implementation of Covid-19 guidelines.”
On the possibility of many devotees staying put in Haridwar for Wednesday’s Shahi Snan, he said, “It is not the case on ground, as a majority of the devotees had left the city after Monday’s Shahi Snan. “Yesterday in the Mahakumbh parking facility, there were about 3,000 buses, but today hardly 50 are left.”
He said the Ganga ghats wore a deserted look on Tuesday. “Mostly seers and saints would take holy dip in the Ganga tomorrow. However, we are prepared with 15,000 security personnel on the ground, expecting a crowd of at least 2.5 million people in the third Shahi Snan,” said Kumar.
184 test positive in second Shahi Snan
The Haridwar district health department, which has been conducting Covid-19 tests in the Mela area as per the standard operating procedure (SOP), said 184 people tested positive during Monday’s Shahi Snan.
“During the Shahi Snan, the health staff tested 30,685 people by taking random samples, of whom 184 tested positive. We are taking the required action as per the Covid-19 protocol,” said Dr SK Jha, Haridwar chief medical officer who has been monitoring the health facilities at Mahakumbh. “On Tuesday till 2pm, 30,685 people were tested, of whom 26 have tested positive so far.”
Meanwhile, Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parisad president Mahant Narendra Giri, who tested positive on Sunday, was shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh on Monday night.
“He was brought to the hospital on Monday night. After a primary diagnosis, he was admitted to the out-patient department,” said AIIMS public relations officer Harish Thapliyal. “Mahant Giri is a diabetic and is suffering from fever and cough, according to the doctors treating him. They however said that his condition is stable.”
Experts for focus on Covid precautions National vice president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr DD Chowdhury said the Mela administration should at least ensure that all are wearing masks.
Chowdhury had termed the congregation of three million people in Monday’s Shahi Snan as the “greatest disaster” for the country at a time the virus is spreading fast. “With lakhs of people gathering at a single place, it is practically impossible to implement social distancing. But, the administration should at least make sure that everyone in the Mela is wearing a mask, which would help in curbing the infection. They should also test as many people as possible to detect positive cases among the devotees,” he said.
Dr Chowdhury, who has been treating the Covid-19 patients in
Uttarakhand, also urged the state governments to keep “solid data” on the number of devotees coming from other states.
“This can stop the virus infection from spreading in their states. They should mandatorily conduct Covid-19 tests of each and every resident of their state returning from the Mahakumbh. They should keep them in quarantine for seven days as soon as they return to their home state,” he said.
Shahi Snan conducted successfully: CM
Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Tuesday said the government had successfully organised a safe second Shahi Snan and will do the same on Wednesday too.
“The first Shahi Snan in March and then the second one on Monday were successfully held despite the pandemic. We are sure that the third Shahi Snan would also be held in the same manner. However, I urge all the devotees to strictly follow the Covid-19 guidelines in the Mahakumbh,” said Rawat.