Kumbh Mela returnees to Delhi to be home-quarantined for 14 days

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Sunday said that that the residents of Delhi, who will be returning to the national capital after attending Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, will have to mandatorily stay in home quarantine for 14 days on their arrival.  

“All residents of Delhi who have visited or are going to visit Kumbh 2021 at Haridwar, shall be required to compulsory home quarantine themselves for 14 days on arrival to Delhi,” said the order issued by Vijay Dev, Chief Secretary and chairperson on executive committee of DDMA.

Also Read | Head of Juna Akhara ends Kumbh Mela after PM Modi’s request to keep it ‘symbolic’

This comes after hundreds of people, who attended the ongoing Kumbh Mela, were seen flouting the COVID-19 guidelines and 1,701 had tested positive for coronavirus in the Haridwar Kumbh Mela area from April 10 to 14. The event has been at the centre of controversy as many fear that it could be a superspreader. 

The Delhi government also said on Sunday that the national capital residents, who visited the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar from April 4 till Sunday or will be travelling on April 18 till 30th of this month, are required to upload their details (viz name, address in Delhi, contact no., ID proof, date of departure from Delhi & arrival here) on link at Delhi government portal. 

Also Read | COVID hits Kumbh: Niranjani Akhada opts out as a seer dies, 1800 test positive

If someone fails to upload the details, he/she will be sent to the institutional quarantine centre for 14 days by district magistrates concerned, the DDMA order said. 

The Kumbh Mela is taking place at a time when India is witnessing an aggressive second wave of COVID-19.

Also Read | CBSE vs Kumbh: Contrasting calls by Centre amid COVID surge

The rising cases of coronavirus in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar have given rise to fears that one of the world’s largest religious gatherings may contribute further surge of COVID-19 infections.