West Bengal: Gangasagar Mela to begin today under strict COVID restrictions – all you need to know:
Gangasagar is a village and a gram panchayat gaala under the jurisdiction of the Sagar police station in the Sagar CD block in the Kakdwip subdivision of the South 24 Parganas district in the state of West Bengal.
The Gangasagar Mela is organised during the days’ Makar Sankranti each year.
The mela is being arranged after the Calcutta High Court permitted the government, to conduct the event under essential covid-19 norms.
There was seen a major cry esteeming its revocation because of explosion in covid-19 cases, amid Omicron variant outbreak.
On the auspicious event of Makar Sankranti, thousands of pilgrims, prophets & tourists take a religious plunge in the convergence of Ganga and Bay of Bengal, to mark this event. They offer prayers at the famous Kapil Muni Temple. The same continues till 16th January.
In West Bengal, The Gangasagar Mela began last week with the death of preventive measures over the place. While authorizing the festival, the Calcutta High Court has now decreed some entry-level rules and regulations. Only the one who is fully vaccinated or those with a negative RT-PCR test are allowed to enter the Mela.
The West Bengal Chief Secretary has been commissioned to assure all the safety measures to execute COVID-19 protocols that should be followed. A two-member committee was formed to regulate allegiance to the constraints.
Earlier on Sunday, state officials had assured that sadhus and visitors were being tested for COVID-19. “Whoever tested positive should be taken to the state isolation centres,” health official Sudeshna Sardar stated.
West Bengal’s active COVID-19 has risen sharply over the last fortnight. As of Tuesday morning, the state has 89,194 active cases, second only to Maharashtra’s caseload of more than 2.09 lakh. India today reported 1,68,063 fresh cases, pushing the active case tally to more than 8.21 lakh.
In related news, the Eastern Railway is slated to run 12 Galloping EMU Mela Special trains between January 12 and 17 to facilitate the rush of pilgrims. Three trains will leave from Sealdah South, two from Kolkata station, five from Namkhana, and a train from Lakshmikantapur and Kakdwip each. Three regular local trains in the section will also be extended during this time.
Neha Mandal
Internship Trainee