Flouting Covid-19 norms, millions gather at Kumbh

On the first official date of the shahi snans (holy bath) in the ongoing Mahakumbh at Haridwar, 2.3 million devotees gathered to take a dip in the Ganges, with next to no social distancing, poor adherence to mask discipline, and patchy enforcement of guidelines such as every bather needing to be registered -- all of which were flagged by experts as a significant cause for concern amid a second wave of the Coronavirus disease that is surging through the country.

The administrators in charge of the mela did not enforce social distancing guidelines citing the huge numbers.

“It is difficult to ensure social distancing during shahi snan when lakhs of seers and pilgrims are at one specific Ganga ghat. Strict measures may lead to a stampede like situation,” said Sanjay Gunjiyal, inspector general, Mela force.

He added that “we are ensuring pilgrims wear masks, sanitise and safely take holy Ganga dip and return to their base.”

“But many people heading for the ghat were not sporting masks,” said the inspector general, Mela Force.

PTI Seers take a dip in the Ganga river during the second Shahi Snan at the Mahakumbh in Haridwar on Monday.