The COVID-hit Kumbh at Haridwar registered its first pullout on Thursday when Niranjani Akhada, one of the 13 akhadas of seers participating in one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, decided to opt-out after the head of another akhada died of the virus and more than 1,800 tested positive for the same.
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“The main Shahi Snan held on the occasion of Mesh Sankranti on April 14 is over. Many in our akhada are showing COVID-19 symptoms. So, for us the Kumbh Mela is over,” Niranjani Akhada secretary Ravindra Puri said according to PTI.
Over 1,700 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the Haridwar Kumbh Mela area from April 10 to 14 and 30 Sadhus tested positive on Thursday. “Medical teams are going to akhadas and RT-PCR tests of sadhus are being done continuously. The process will be further quickened from 17th April,” Dr SK Jha, Haridwar Chief Medical Officer, told ANI.
The head of the Maha Nirvani Akhada from Madhya Pradesh, Swami Kapil Dev, who was hospitalised after testing positive for COVID-19 died on April 13. He had come to attend the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar from Madhya Pradesh, was admitted to the Kailash Hospital here after his RT-PCR test result, Haridwar’s Chief Medical Officer S K Jha said. Swami Kapil Dev passed away at the hospital on April 13, Superintendent of Police (City) Sarita Dobhal said.
The Kumbh Mela area is spread over 670 hectares and three districts — Haridwar, Tehri and Dehradun. A majority of the 48.51 lakh people who took part in the last two ‘royal baths’ (shahi snan) held on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya on April 12 and Mesh Sankranti on April 14 were seen openly violating COVID norms.
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Despite their best efforts, the police could not enforce the COVID guidelines as seers of akhadas and the ash-smeared ascetics thronging Har Ki Pairi ghat on the two major bathing days. The next Shahi Snan is scheduled for April 27.
