Relief For Devotees: Uttarakhand CM Announces COVID Negative Report Not Mandatory To Visit Kumbh Mela

Uttarakhand Chief Minister (CM) Tirath Singh Rawat has assured that pilgrims will not be required to bring along their RT-PCR Covid-19 test report to visit the Kumbh Mela that will be held in Haridwar throughout the month of April.

The newly-sworn in CM has thus overturned the decision of erstwhile CM Trivendra Singh Rawat whose administration had rolled out standard operating procedures (SOPs) that made it compulsory for devotees to show a negative RT-PCR report before the attending the iconic religious congregation.

CM Tirath Singh Rawat has mentioned that this call has been taken to remove any apprehensions that were bothering the people planning to visit the Kumbh Mela. He also admitted that it is practically impossible to carry out RT-PCR tests and verify the negative reports of lakhs of pilgrims who will visit the Kumbh daily.

CM Rawat told the Times of India, “Kumbh happens only after 12 years. We don’t want people to miss out on the opportunity of experiencing the festival. All we want is the happiness of saints, devotees, traders and locals. We will ensure that Covid-19 norms are followed and the required health infrastructure is available for Kumbh.”

Tirath Singh Rawat was BJP’s MP from Garhwal in the 17th Lok Sabha. However, he was handed the chief ministerial responsibility after brewing discontent against Trivendra Singh Rawat in the saffron party’s state unit.

The new CM mentioned that he had no clue that he would be made the CM and expressed his gratitude to the BJP’s leadership. He asserted that tourism, infrastructure, health and education will be his areas of focus as the state will be heading into legislative elections around this time next year.