The much-awaited mega event of Kumbha Mela has officially commenced in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar even as the nation grapples with the second wave of COVID-19. The event is hailed as one of the largest religious and peaceful gatherings in the world and sees enthusiasts and devotees coming in from all over the country as well as from across the world.
However, this time, as India sees a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, a number of guidelines have been put into place by the event authorities.
The state has made it essential for visitors from 12 states to carry COVID negative test reports with them while visiting the state; those visiting Haridwar must also carry their RT-PCR negative report. April 12, 14, 27 are the major dates for Kumbha this time, and might attract a lot of visitors. Thus, stricter check have been put in place.
As per ANI, the authorities have also set up COVID test kiosks at the state borders to facilitate the visitors. Further, visitors from these 12 states are mandated to carry COVID test report as well – Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab. Karnataka. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan. The test should have been conducted 72 hours before their arrival in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat was quoted as stating, “People coming from these state, as well as residents of Uttarakhand, shall strictly follow the norms of safety and social distancing as per the guidelines of the ministry of home affairs.”
