Covid-19 protocols tossed away at Haridwar Kumbh Mela as 31 lakh throng for holy dip | Ground report

People participating in the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar were seen openly flouting Covid-19 protocols. The state administration said it's trying its best, but there are limitations in handling such large gatherings, and enforcing social distancing is very challenging.

No masks, no social distancing and all Covid-19 protocols tossed away. This was the scene at the Haridwar Kumbh Mela on Monday as nearly 31 lakh people thronged to the Kumbh Mela for a holy dip in river Ganga at Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri. Devotees take holy dip in the water of River Ganges at #MahaKumbh in #Haridwar.Here’s @JournoAshutosh’s ground report.#COVID19 #Coronavirus #ITVideo pic.twitter.com/IuZHEnfRhP Can Kumbh Mela, IPL lead to Covid surge? Can #CoronaVaccination drive bring down infections? Here's what Dr. Randeep Guleria has to say.#NewsToday with @sardesairajdeep pic.twitter.com/f48rR5clML "Data shows that Kumbh is not a super spreader": Ashok Kumar, Uttarakhand DGP on #COVID norms being violated during #Mahakumbh2021 #Coronavirus #COVID19 #NewsToday | @sardesairajdeep pic.twitter.com/kclMvZI0Tg People flout #Covid norms at #MahaKumbh2021, authorities concerned. @JournoAshutosh reports from Haridwar.#ITVideo #Uttarakhand #Haridwar #KumbhMela #Kumbh #Coronavirus #CovidSurge pic.twitter.com/TntEftNEtW Of course, the Uttarakhand government made tall claims that it would ensure the best arrangements are in place to manage the crowds. But ground reality in Haridwar on Monday was quite different. Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar said they had expected the crowd to be even bigger.