New Delhi (NVI): Hundreds of people, who gathered for Shahi Snan (royal bath) in the Ganga river at Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, have tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports.
The virus has also been detected in some top saints and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. As per reports, Yadav visited Haridwar on Sunday and met some top saints including Narendra Giri who has also been diagnosed with the virus. Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad president Mahant Narendra Giri has been admitted to AIIMS in Haridwar.
Positive cases have been detected among the devotees, despite the Uttarakhand government putting in place basic preventive measures for the two-month long festival.
However, some reports have claimed that several devotees were allowed without Covid-negative RT-PCR test reports, a mandatory norm set by the Uttarakhand administration for entering the iconic Har ki Pauri and ghats, during the festival.
India, battling a second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, today recorded 1,84,372 new coronavirus infections. The country’s death toll has climbed to 1,72,085 with the deadly virus claiming 1,027 lives during the last 24 hours.
-ARK
