Flouting Covid Norms, People Gather In UP's Hapur For Holy Dip In Ganga

Public gatherings are still banned under the restrictions announced by the Yogi Adityanath government as the second wave of the disease flared up.

Thousands of devotees were seen at Hapur's Brajghat, Uttar Pradesh, today, come for a dip in the river on the religious festival Ganga Dussehra, flouting all safety norms for Covid. It is not yet known if the gathering - coming only as the second wave of Covid is beginning to relent -- had permission of the authorities. Public gatherings - religious or otherwise - are still banned under the restrictions announced by the Yogi Adityanath government as the second wave of the disease flared up. The huge gathering during the Kumbhmela at Haridwar in April was said to be one of the key reasons for the rapid peaking of the second wave of the virus, which tore through the country in April and May demolishing the healthcare system and killing thousands. The gathering at Hapur comes as Uttar Pradesh allowed the opening of shopping malls and restaurants today after a gap of more than two months.