Millionsof people gathered on the banks of River Ganga, one of the world’s largestreligious gatherings at Haridwar for Maha Kumbh Mela, amid the spread ofcoronavirus.
Indiais witnessing the most severe COVID-19 outbreak since the pandemic began.Despite the second way of coronavirus in the country the Central and Stategovernment did not say no to the week-long Hindu Festival, the Maha Kumbh heldonce in 12 years.
Photosand videos from the Maha Kumbh show the disregard of physical distancing. Noteven half of the population is wearing a mask. Uttarakhand Chief MinisterTirath Singh Rawat has been an active participant of the mela has captured witha mask around his neck instead of his face. In favor of Maha Kumbh Rawat saidthat no one should do rok-tok (restrictions), the mela is ‘open for all'. CMTirath had famously said, “Nobody will be stopped in the name of COVID-19, andthe faith in God will overcome the fear of the virus.”
Manynational daily newspapers, published full-page advertisements of CM Rawat andPM Narendra Modi, welcoming people to attend the MahaKumbh and telling them itis ‘clean’ and ‘safe’ to attend.
Asper reports, Uttarakhand Police is using Artificial Intelligence (AI)technology to keep an eye on the violation of COVID-19 protocols. According topolice officials, the AI cameras will zoom in, zoom out, and will capturephotographs of the faces without masks. Around 350 cameras are installed on theghats of Haridwar out of which more than 100 are equipped with AI sensors.
Indiais already reporting an increase in the cases of coronavirus. Currently, thereare 2,056 active cases and 386 people tested positive on a single day inHaridwar. There were three main days of Kumbh Mela, known as ‘Shahi Snan’ (RoyalBath) on April 12, 14, and 27. The authorities at present are unwilling to stop thecrowding these days. It is mandatory to carry COVID negative report, but it is being alleged that thereis no such arrangement to ensure devotees safety.
Infact, the Indian Railways has organized 25 special trains on these three dayslinking to Haridwar from different destinations.
Nowseveral questions have been raised on the Central Government for not ensuringthe safety of the devotees. It is visible that COVID-19 norms are not followedin Haridwar, instead, there is a huge spike of coronavirus in India. And if theevents like this will continue the Kumbh Mela will turn into the‘super-spreaders’ of the coronavirus.
Thislack of concern can be compared to the government’s handling of the case ofNizzamudin Markaz of the Tablighi Jammat in New Delhi, last year. The event wasattended by about 3,500 people and was organized before any kind ofrestrictions was imposed by the government on public gathering.
Overnight,the Tablighi Jammat was painted as the main cause of the spread of this novelvirus in India by both Big Media Houses and the Modi Government. The mediahouses broadcasted the news with a headline, ‘corona jihad’.
Ayear later, India’s COVID situation is much worst than it was during the timeof Jammat. And it is a much, much more large religious event with governmentsupport.
TheChief Minister of Uttarakhand, Rawat said that “The Kumbh Mela shouldn’t becompared to the Markaz because now people know that they have to sanitize theirhands and wear masks.”