1m revellers at Ganges as India hit by Covid flood
ONE million people partied at the river Ganges yesterday for a holy festival – despite India recording the world’s highest total of new Covid infections.
The 168,912 cases meant 13.53million have had coronavirus – second only to the US at 31.2million. It now accounts for one in six new infections globally.
Few of the Hindu revellers in the northern city of Haridwar wore masks as they joined the Kumbh Mela festival.
Tests were said to have been mandatory to enter the area, but officials battled to hold back crowds.
‘The crowd is surging,’ police official Sanjay Gunjyal said. ‘We are continuously appealing to people to maintain social distancing.’ Political rallies are also adding to a brutal second wave after the economy opened up, experts say. Elections are due in four big states this month, with prime minister Narendra Modi campaigning across the country.
‘With 1.2million active cases and daily numbers reaching 200,000, it’s bizarre to have poll rallies and a full Kumbh Mela,’ political pundit Shekhar Gupta said. ‘This will take the virus into villages and small towns. This is the calamity we dodged with a crippling lockdown in the first wave. Now we’re inviting it back.’
India’s overnight death toll of 904 was its highest since October, making the total 170,179.