Kanwar yatra can be much riskier than Kumbh

As Uttarakhand considers the possibility of allowing the annual kanwar yatra, experts have cautioned against it, expressing concerns that the fortnight-long pilgrimage could be “five times more likely to be a superspreader event” than the Kumbh festival that took place in Haridwar in April. According to experts, the risk of spread of Covid-19 infection is higher in kanwar yatra than it was at the Maha Kumbh mela as the number of devotees undertaking the yatra is likely to be significantly higher than those who attended Kumbh. The footfall for kanwar yatra in the previous years has ranged between 2 crore and 5 crore. Anoop Nautiyal, whose organisation Social Development for Communities Foundation has been closely tracking the Covid scenario in the state, said, “Even if standard operating procedures regarding Covid behaviour are put in place and the kanwar yatra allowed, the SOPs will be impossible to implement. We have seen that at the Kumbh and more recently when lockdown restrictions were eased and tourists flocked to hill stations.” Nautiyal added, “Kanwar yatra will be many times more dangerous than Kumbh. About 3 to 4 crore pilgrims will visit Haridwar in a fortnight compared with the 70 lakh that came during the 30-day Kumbh. The state will not be able to handle the infection spread post-kanwar yatra. A decision must be taken keeping in mind the third wave of Covid-19.” Dr NS Khatri, deputy medical superintendent and Covid care centre coordinator of the state’s largest Covid facility, Doon Medical College Hospital, said, “In an ideal situation it (the kanwar yatra) should be avoided as Uttarakhand has already recorded its first Delta-plus case.”

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/3yHZECY